POSITION TITLE: Assistant District Attorney / Records Access Officer, Public Records Unit
STATUS: Non-Exempt
REPORTS TO: Second Assistant District Attorneys
SALARY: $ 85,000 – 100,000 commensurate with experience
SUPERVISES: Public Records Paralegal
SUMMARY:
The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office (PCDAO) seeks a motivated, organized, adaptable, and computer-savvy attorney for the Records Access Officer (RAO) position. The RAO manages government compliance with the Public Records Law. The RAO is responsible for legally analyzing requests, redacting exempt information and responding to all requests for records in the possession of the PCDAO that fall outside the normal course of discovery. The RAO must become familiar with the statutes and case law that govern public records in Massachusetts in order to make decisions about what material is subject to disclosure. The RAO must also respond to requester’s appeals to the to the Supervisor of Public Records. The RAO may be required to appear in superior court when requesters seek judicial review of an unfavorable decision by the Supervisor of Public Records. This position involves extensive interaction with members of the public, including victims of crime, civil counsel, incarcerated defendants, and representatives of local, national, and international media outlets. The Public Records Unit is additionally responsible for updating the PCDAO’s required entries in the public records database on the website of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Unit also shares responsibility for responding to subpoenas for documents, testimony of employees, and testimony of the keeper of records for the Office, in consultation with the District Attorney and senior staff.[1]
QUALIFICAÇÕES:
Necessário:
- Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
- Admittance in good standing to the Massachusetts Bar with a minimum of 3 years legal experience.
- Demonstrated commitment to public service with an understanding of the criminal justice system and the role of the prosecutor.
- Civil litigation document experience beneficial.
- Strong computer skills and ability to use and adapt to a variety of software programs.
- Applicants should have familiarity with Adobe.
- Ability to perform legal research; knowledge of legal terminology and principles.
- Ability to deal with sensitive, confidential, and sometimes graphic information.
- Applicants must display extreme attention to detail and have superior time management and organizational skills when dealing with large amounts of data.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team to complete projects in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
- Experience working in a professional environment.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Keep track of all requests for records in the possession of the PCDAO that fall outside the normal course of discovery, whether submitted in oral or written form.
- Input all public record requests into the database (GOV QA).
- Legally analyze all public record requests.
- Redact legally exempt information for all responsive documents in accordance with
G.L. c. 4, section 7(26).
- Apply fee guidelines under statutory guidelines.
- Respond to requests within the time frame mandated by G.L. c. 66, section 10.
- Deliver the responsive, non-exempt materials to the requester.
- Handle appeals to the Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Record Division in accordance with G. L. c. 66, section 10A (a).
- Draft legal responses and appear in superior court when requesters seek judicial review of an unfavorable decision from the Secretary of the Commonwealth in accordance with
- L. c. 66, section 10A (c).
- Reply to subpoenas.
- Participate in team meetings.
- Review drafts for accuracy.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Attend trainings relevant to PCDAO functions.
- Become familiar with, and follow, PCDAO personnel policies, particularly regarding confidentiality, sexual harassment, drug-free workplace, and usage of information technology resources.
- Become familiar with, and adhere to, the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Ter um comportamento e uma comunicação respeitosos e profissionais com o público, o pessoal judicial e policial e o pessoal do escritório.
- Complete work assignments in a timely, accurate, and efficient manner.
- Outras tarefas conexas que lhe sejam atribuídas.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time. Lift boxes up to 20 lbs.
TRAVEL: Occasional local travel to various sites, including courthouses and offsite agencies.
EEO STATEMENT: The PCDAO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Internal and external applicants, as well as position incumbents, must be able to perform the essential core tasks either with or without the assistance of a reasonable accommodation (to be determined by the District Attorney’s Office on a case-by-case basis). If you believe you are in need of a reasonable accommodation, please contact HR at (508) 894-2538.
[1] The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied Contract of Employment.