Assistant District Attorney / Records Access Officer, Public Records Unit

Position Title: Assistant District Attorney / Records Access Officer, Public Records Unit

Reports To: Second Assistant District Attorneys      

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]

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

G. 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.
• Exercise respectful and professional behavior and communication with the public, judicial and law enforcement personnel, and office staff.
• Complete work assignments in a timely, accurate, and efficient manner.
• Other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• 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.