Trial Assistant - SVU

ABOUT THE ORLEANS PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (OPDA):

Jason Rogers Williams took office as the Orleans Parish District Attorney on January 11, 2021, and is building a 21st century prosecutors' office with a team of the best and brightest from around the country and a mission of being as smart on crime as the office has historically been tough on crime. New Orleans has led the world in convictions and incarceration for decades, without any corresponding decrease in crime. OPDA is simultaneously increasing safety and delivering justice with a laser focus on serious offenses and a belief that every New Orleanian deserves the presumption of innocence.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:

The Special Victims Unit screens and prosecutes cases involving sex crimes, human trafficking, severe child abuse, and hate crimes. The Trial Assistant assigned to the Special Victims Unit performs paralegal-type support duties as required or assigned by Assistant District Attorneys within the Unit. Examples of such duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform basic administrative service tasks such as taking or receiving phone calls, responding to e-mails, making copies, redacting files, BATES numbering, greeting witnesses, and all things necessary to assist a trial attorney
• Coordinate meetings and appointments with Victim/Witness Division personnel, lawyers, victims, survivors, witnesses, etc.
• Meticulously maintain calendars for case dockets, meetings, and appointments
• Maintain knowledge of the law, specifically Brady v. Maryland, and how it applies to case management, document preparation, and discovery disclosures
• Locate and research CVs of any expert witnesses anticipated to testify at trial
• Accompany trial attorneys at court proceedings to track and contemporaneously update case information in case management system (e.g., court dates, warrant information, filing of pleadings by defense counsel, etc.)
• Locate and prepare complete files for all criminal court appearances
• Prepare all plea paperwork, judgments, and other related legal documents necessary for the proper disposition of criminal cases
• Manage, organize, and maintain documents in paper and electronic filing systems
• Prepare, generate, and file subpoenas, pre-trial motions, revocations, adjudications, bench warrants, competency/sanity motions, and other documents
• Assist with jury trials by preparing prospective jury charts, reviewing prior service of jurors, and copying jury list for attorneys and Investigators
• Enhance trial proceedings by organizing evidence, preparing exhibits, scheduling witnesses with Victim/Witness Coordinators, and typing or legibly writing detailed legible courtroom notes
• Communicate with court staff to ensure condition and use of courtroom equipment (e.g., audio/visual)
• Communicate with law enforcement agencies, defense attorneys, probation officers, state agencies, and others, maintaining courtesy and professionalism
• Organize materials for prosecution team case review

SALARY AND BENEFITS

$48,000 to $53,000 Salary commensurate with experience.

New hires may be eligible for:

· Health insurance

· Life insurance

· Sick leave

· Vacation leave

· Paid parental leave

· Generous paid holiday schedule

· Employee Assistance Program

· Flexible spending account

· Enrollment in the City's Retirement Plan (NOMERS)

· Enrollment in the Louisiana Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan

· Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

CLASSIFICATION

Full-time, non-exempt

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

OPDA is an equal-opportunity employer. The office values a diverse workforce and management reflective of the communities that it serves. Accordingly, OPDA adheres to a policy of making employment, promotion, and other personnel decisions without regard to race, culture, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, caregiver status, age, disability, or other legally protected status.