Job description
ABOUT USYork County is located in the Piedmont region, between the Broad River and the Catawba River. Its diverse landscape is home to family-friendly towns/cities, a progressive urban region and lakefront communities. We are excited that you want to join our team and recognize that our employees are the foundation for our success.
Mission Statement - York County provides quality public services in an open, efficient, and responsive manner.
Vision Statement - York County provides an environment where all citizens and businesses can thrive and succeed.
About the Department - The Solicitor"s Office, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit for York & Union Counties in South Carolina are responsible for prosecuting criminal offenses. Divisions of the Solicitor"s Office include General Sessions, Juvenile, Diversion, and Victim Assistance. When a crime occurs, the "people of the state" represented by the Solicitor or one of his assistants, prosecute the case. The Victim-Witness Advocates inform victims of their rights. They act as liaisons between the victims and other agencies. They attend court hearings with victims or attend on their behalf. They keep the victims informed of hearing dates, case updates and defendants sentences. They set up pretrial conferences upon a Solicitor"s request and attend them. They attend hearings when requested to attend by the victim or their family. ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITY
We invite you to apply to join our team as a full-time (40 hours per week), non-exempt Victim Advocate/Paralegal within the Solicitor"s Office located in York. Under limited supervision, this position provides both paralegal and victim advocate support for the Solicitor"s Office by providing reliable, confidential, and complex paralegal support to assigned attorneys, to expedite the judicial process, to ensure efficient case management, and other specialized duties as assigned. In addition, this position provides assistance to victims of crimes in compliance with the Victim"s Bill of Rights and must be a certified Victim"s Advocate.
Work Schedule: Generally, 40 hours per week, 5 days per week, 8 am - 5 pm.
Benefits: participation in SCRS: South Carolina Retirement System through PEBA (scrs_handbook.pdf) comprehensive medical benefits including dental, vision through PEBA (benefits_options_2023.pdf (sc.gov)), vacation leave, sick leave, longevity pay, 11 paid holidays plus 3 optional days/floating holidays.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Establish, maintain, and close out case files and prepare all necessary forms for the disposition of cases.
Perform data entry to record and retrieve pertinent case information; review, analyze, and classify information to be entered into computer database; scan information into computer as appropriate and ensure all information is accurate and up-to-date.
Schedule and confirm dates for depositions, hearings, trials, and other actions with appropriate personnel. Maintain court dockets and attend and assist with witness interviews and court hearings/trials. Receive and determine appropriateness of requests for information; release information to the public, attorneys, and defendants according to established guidelines.
Conduct criminal background checks on defendants, witnesses, and jurors as needed.
Answer the telephone, provide information and assistance to callers or forward calls to appropriate staff person.
Establish an effective means of communication and cooperation through early contact with victims, family members, and witnesses to inform them of available services and other pertinent information.
Serve as liaison between the victim/witness, law enforcement officers, investigators, attorneys, court personnel, service providers, creditors, hospital/medical facilities and staff, insurance companies, parole and probation boards, and other government, community, and private organizations.
Assist in preparing victims and witnesses for court testimony and attend pre-trial meetings, bond hearings, and trials. Provide testimony on behalf of victims as necessary.
Assist victims in completing the SC Victim Impact Statement and in filing the State Office of Victim Assistance application for victim compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, counseling, funeral expenses, etc.
Provide emotional and moral support to victims of crimes and refer victims to other agencies in cases of physical, social, and/or psychological injuries or anxieties.
Other Duties:
Arrange for the transportation of inmates for the disposition of cases.
Attend trainings, meetings, seminars, conferences, and/or workshops to enhance job knowledge and skills and to obtain the annual required training hours to maintain Victim Advocacy Certification as set forth by OVSEC.
Provide crisis intervention as needed, including, victim referrals for emergency housing, food and clothing, and other follow-up services to victims of crimes and their families.
Recruit, train, guide, and assist program volunteers and other workers.
Coordinate daily work activities, organize, and assign daily tasks, monitor status of work in progress, and inspect completed work of volunteers.
Provide home visits and follow-up services to victims of crimes and their families.
ABOUT YOU
ABOUT YOU - EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Completion of Associate's degree or three years of experience.
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:
A Paralegal certification and/or Associate's degree in social work, criminal justice, or a closely related field is preferred.
Must possess NCIC certification and be commissioned as SC Notary Public. Must receive OVSEC (Victim Advocate) certification within first year of hire. Must maintain Victim Advocate certification as required via continuing education hours. Because a victim or witness"s situation may require that we provide transportation to and/or from the court house for court hearings or trial preparation meetings, etc., the victim advocate may need to transport a victim or witness from time to time using county provided vehicles. As such, this position requires the victim advocate to have and maintain a valid state driver"s license. The victim advocate also must take and pass York County"s Driving Certification and Recertification classes every three years.
Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education may be considered. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
PHYSICAL AND DEXTERITY REQUIREMENTS:
Requires work involving: standing or walking 1/3 to 2/3 of the time; sitting, gripping or feeling with hands, reaching with hands and arms, talking, or hearing over 2/3 of the time; climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling - under 1/3 of the time; lifting up to 50 pounds under 1/3 of the time.
VISION REQUIREMENTS:
Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up or down or to the left and right when vision is fixed on a given point), Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS/HAZARDS:
The job may risk exposure to indoor environment and potential for violence/physical altercations. JOB DESCRIPTION
2533.Victim Advocate-Paralegal Solicitor uploaded 1.20.23.docx Disclaimer
York County is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to achieving excellence and strength through diversity. The County seeks a wide range of applicants for its positions so that one of our core values, a qualified and diverse workforce, will be affirmed. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
jjbodyshop.com is the go-to platform for job seekers looking for the best job postings from around the web. With a focus on quality, the platform guarantees that all job postings are from reliable sources and are up-to-date. It also offers a variety of tools to help users find the perfect job for them, such as searching by location and filtering by industry. Furthermore, jjbodyshop.com provides helpful resources like resume tips and career advice to give job seekers an edge in their search. With its commitment to quality and user-friendliness, jjbodyshop.com is the ideal place to find your next job.