Administrative Assistant - PDD Roxbury

Public Counsel; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A public defender agency is seeking an Administrative Assistant to support attorneys in legal representation for indigent adults in criminal cases. The ideal candidate should have strong communication skills, be detail-oriented, and possess proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel. This full-time role involves managing legal documentation and providing support in a mission-driven environment that values justice and diversity.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of administrative work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Access to home internet sufficient for remote work.
• Ability to interact with diverse community members.

Responsibilities

• Support a team of attorneys with case management.
• Prepare various legal documents and correspondence.
• Provide reception and telephone services.

Skills

Effective communication

Organizational skills

Detail-oriented

Interpersonal skills

Typing speed (50-60 wpm)

Flexibility

Education

Associate's or higher degree in business administration

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

Administrative Assistant Position

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking an Administrative Assistant for its Public Defender Division (PDD) Roxbury Defender's Unit. PDD provides legal representation to adults in criminal court cases, including District, Municipal, and Superior Court.

We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.

Our Values

Courage Accountability Respect Excellence

Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity, and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to : (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community.

Agency Overview

CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.

The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and / or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.

Office Overview

The Roxbury Defenders' Office, formerly known as the Roxbury Defenders' Committee, was founded in 1971 by a group of African American attorneys (including Roderick Ireland who later became Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court). Its mission was to provide legal services to Roxbury residents who were not adequately represented. The Office has been staffed over the years by many attorneys who have achieved prominence as trial lawyers, judges, elected officials, and community leaders. The office is located at 10 Malcom X Boulevard in the heart of Roxbury. The Office continues to provide excellent and zealous representation to the greater Roxbury Community, representing clients in the Suffolk Superior Court, and Roxbury, Dorchester, and West Roxbury Divisions of the Boston Municipal Court. From its inception the Office has been integrally involved in the local community; members of the Office participate in various local activities and organizations to improve the welfare of its clients and the people in the area. The Office continues to strongly believe in community engagement and partnership to assist clients as they navigate the criminal legal system.

Position Overview

The Public Defender Division is seeking to fill an Administrative Assistant position to work with attorneys who provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent adults in criminal misdemeanor and felony cases in area courts.

This is a full-time position and reports to the Supervising Administrative Assistant.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

Applicants must have at least (A) one year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience in administrative work or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below :

• An Associate's or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management, or public administration may be substituted for the required experience. Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Applicants must also have access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Qualifications / Skills

The ideal candidate will be a person who is highly organized, creative and detail oriented, enjoys interacting with people in a friendly work environment, and will take satisfaction from working in an agency whose commitment is to protect the fundamental legal rights of indigent persons.

• Communicating effectively with internal and external contacts at all levels, and across diverse and underrepresented groups;
• Strong communication, organizational, and detail skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with diverse colleagues at all levels of the agency, and the ability to work as an effective team member;
• Flexibility, and strict adherence to confidentiality;
• Typing skill of 50 to 60 wpm preferred;
• Familiarity with advanced Word formatting and editing, and Microsoft Excel;
• Ability to multi-task and juggle assignments from multiple attorneys;
• Ability to work on cases in which criminal allegations are alleged and sensitive, sometimes graphic, material is involved;
• Familiarity with the Roxbury, Dorchester, West Roxbury and Downtown neighborhoods of Boston, community oriented and able to interact comfortably with community members;
• Ability to manage phone calls from individuals who may be raising urgent issues, including clients calling from jail;
• Ability to work quickly and maintain composure under pressure during trials and client emergencies;
• Legal office experience a plus; and,
• Foreign language skills are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• The Administrative Assistant will support a team of attorneys by :
• Opening and closing cases, including running conflict checks;
• Word processing, including preparation of CORI requests, subpoenas, motions, letters, running sheet entries, etc.;
• Filing, faxing, photocopying, scanning, and shredding documents, transcriptions and transcript requests and other document and record requests as necessary;
• Providing telephone and reception services;
• Communicating effectively with internal and external contacts at all levels, and across diverse and underrepresented groups; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

EEO Statement

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at [e-mail]