Law Office Assistant 1 [On-Call] (Pcn 02N07035)

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

To apply for this position, please send your resume, and other pertinent documents to:

PDARecruitment@alaska.gov

What You Will Be Doing

This position a non-permanent on-call position that provides clerical support to attorneys and Agency administrators. Law Office Assistants maintain case file information digitally and in physical files, process police reports and evidence, answer phones, file pleadings with the Court and opposing counsel, prepare routine legal documents, and assist clients.

Law Office Assistants play a significant role in ensuring that administrative tasks are handled effectively and the office runs smoothly and our on-call positions provide coverage for vacant positions, leave, and assist with special projects. These positions can be part-time or full-time based on the applicant's availability and Agency need.  

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel in many types of cases and the Public Defender Agency is appointed by the Court to represent people who are unable to afford counsel on their own.   Law Office Assistants are an integral part of providing that representation and protecting our clients' rights.

 Law Office Assistants work closely with attorneys and other Agency staff to make sure evidence and case materials are processed and distributed quickly. They often serve as important points of contact for the Court system, opposing counsel, and the public.

The Benefits of Joining Our Team

Support staff at the Public Defender Agency have the opportunity to learn about the legal system and hone their administrative and clerical skills to further their career development in the legal field.  Most importantly, they get to do this while working as a team to provide meaningful contributions to Alaska, as the work we do impacts people's lives and protects the constitutional rights of all Alaskans.

This important work helps improve case outcomes for individuals charged with crimes, helps re-unify families, and provides the foundation for successful re-entry into communities. Many Law Office Assistants use the skills and experience they gain to promote to paralegal, investigative, and administrative management positions within the Agency, the State of Alaska, or the private sector.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

We are hiring on-calls in our Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Palmer offices. Our offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM with an hour lunch at noon, but an on-call Law Office Assistant's schedule during this time can vary to accommodate the applicant's availability. Parking is provided in all locations.

Who We Are Looking For

• Technological Competency: Competency with standard office equipment is expected and computer literacy and fluency with Microsoft Office is essential to handling the large volume of digital documents and evidence in cases and utilizing the digital case management system.

• Effective Communicator: Clear and professional oral and written communication is essential to anyone working in the legal field.

• Prioritization: The ability to handle shifting priorities in high-pressure situations will enable success in the position.

• Ability to Maintain Confidentiality: Strict confidentiality is required due to the nature of the work performed.

• Independent Worker: Taking initiative, exercising sound judgment, and following directions is critical in our offices.

PI01A1 - Law Office Assistant 1

One year of experience that involves some combination of providing significant customer service contact; eliciting or exchanging information as related to requirements or procedures necessary to secure services, authorizations, or goods on behalf of the client; and/or performing standard administrative tasks such as preparing correspondence or reports, filing, entering data, receiving payments, and/or maintaining logs and includes the regular, proficient use of electronic management information systems and word processing and other standard business software applications.

Substitutions:

Any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college or university (2.67 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month) in any area of study and/or applicable experience, as defined above, may substitute for the required experience.

An associate's degree or specific vocational-technical certification in a legal support career area (e.g., paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretary, or criminal justice) may substitute for the required experience.

Vocational-technical certification in a generalized business support career area (e.g., administrative office technology, business and marketing management, entrepreneurship, or office assistance) may substitute for up to 6 months of the required experience.

Please read the below information carefully. This applies to your application submission.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY

Please be sure to check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

Writing Sample

Please provide a written response to the following questions as part of your application:

• Describe how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

• In one paragraph, why do you think you would be a good fit for working specifically in a law firm tasked with defending those accused of wrong-doing?

• This position has access to tightly regulated criminal background information and must pass a criminal background investigation. To help assess whether you could pass this background investigation, please state whether you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony.  If yes please provide details on the charges including the year of conviction.

• The work we do often exposes staff to case materials that include graphic or explicit content; graphic images like autopsy photos or detailed descriptions of violence. Is this something you are going to be comfortable with?

At time of interview, please be prepared to provide:

• College transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications)
• Three professional references, two who have had supervisory experience over you, including current email and/or daytime phone number

APSIN

Please be aware - this position requires the use of the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN). A security clearance issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is necessary to use APSIN. DPS will deny security clearance for any applicant who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in this state or another jurisdiction, or who may be a fugitive from justice. Additionally, security clearance will be withdrawn if DPS discovers that material information was falsified or omitted at the time of the initial application for security clearance.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at:

P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply for this position, please send your resume, and other pertinent documents to:

PDARecruitment@alaska.gov

Rhonda Thayer

Administrative Officer 1

rhonda.thayer@alaska.gov