Law Office Assistant 1/2 (02-1783)

State of Alaska; Palmer (AK); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Alaska’s Office of Public Advocacy in Palmer is seeking an experienced Law Office Assistant to support the Public Defense section. The role handles filing, document prep, mail, inbox monitoring, file organization, and calendar management for attorneys.

The position requires strong administrative skills and a willingness to work in a fast-paced government office. Alaska residency is required for eligibility, and the team is located in downtown Palmer with on-site work.

Qualifications

• Experience providing administrative support in a legal or government office.
• Ability to format, edit, proofread and revise legal documents for caption, syntax and grammar.
• Familiarity with filing, mail processing, calendaring, and document management.
• Ability to obtain Notary Public and pass a background check if required.

Responsibilities

• File and serve legal documents; format and proofread for correct caption, syntax, punctuation.
• Process incoming/outgoing mail; monitor email for court notices and orders.
• Organize paper and electronic files; calendar deadlines for attorneys.
• Answer phones; manage daily office needs and supplies.

Skills

Adaptability

Attention to Detail

Clerical

Computer Skills

Education

Associate’s degree or legal support cert

Bachelor’s degree may substitute for experience

Tools

Word processing software

Electronic management information systems

Job description

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

What You Will Be Doing

This position provides support to the Office of Public Advocacy’s Public Defense section in Palmer through experienced administrative and communication skills combined with a strong work ethic. The position provides administrative support with the following tasks:

• Filing legal documents with the court and serving parties. Format, edit, proofread and revise documents for correct caption, syntax, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
• Processing incoming and outgoing mail;
• Monitoring the section’s email inbox for incoming court notices, orders, and other documents;
• Organizing paper and electronic files;
• Calendaring deadlines for attorneys;
• Answering incoming phone calls;
• Managing daily office needs such as maintaining office equipment and ordering office supplies.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The Office of Public Advocacy (OPA) provides legal advocacy and guardianship services to indigent and vulnerable Alaskans. The Palmer Criminal Defense section provides skilled and professional court-appointed attorneys for defendants in criminal cases, parents and children in Child in Need of Aid cases, and juveniles in delinquency cases. OPA is a fast-paced work environment comprising individuals who care deeply about their responsibilities to our clients to whom the Agency is appointed.

The Benefits of Joining Our Team

Our office presents the opportunity to work as part of a strong team providing legal services for indigent Alaskans while enhancing your administrative skills and legal acumen.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

The Palmer Criminal Defense office is located in downtown Palmer. Free parking is available. The office is next to the courthouse and near many restaurants and shops. The Law Office Assistant position is part of a larger support team providing administrative support to the office’s attorneys.

Who We Are Looking For

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

• Adaptability: adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Clerical: Knowledge of filing, typing, entering data, maintaining records, taking shorthand, and using and completing forms.
• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

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.

PI01A2 – Law Office Assistant 2

One year of specific experience as a Law Office Assistant 1 with the State of Alaska;

OR

Successful completion of training under a formally established Law Office Assistant 1-2 flexible staffing training plan with the State of Alaska;

OR

One year of experience in a law office, or other administrative experience that includes the regular, proficient use of electronic management information systems and word processing and other standard business software applications for preparing, reviewing, or processing legal documents such as affidavits, court reports, demand letters, discovery requests or responses, entries of appearances, hearing transcripts, memoranda of advice/instruction, motions, legal opinions, subpoenas, and/or writs.

Substitutions:

A bachelor’s degree in a legal field of study may substitute for the required experience.

An associate’s degree or specific vocational-technical certification in a legal support career area (e.g., paralegal, Law Office Assistant, legal secretary, or criminal justice) may substitute for up to 6 months of the required experience.

Post-secondary education from an accredited college or university in a non-legal field of study may substitute for up to 6 months of the required experience (2.67 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month).

Vocational-Technical Certification in a generalized business support (e.g., administrative office technology, business and marketing management, entrepreneurship, or office assistance) career area may substitute for up to 3 months of the required experience.

Special Note (All Levels):

Most positions require incumbents to be able to obtain a Notary Public upon hire, and to be able to pass a criminal background check to meet security requirements for using criminal record networks such as APSIN and National Crim Enforcement Information Center/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NCIC/NLETS). If this requirement is present, it will be stated in the vacancy announcement.

Some positions are required to work regular overtime during the standard workweek, on weekends, and/or holidays to provide support to the assigned duty attorney. If this requirement is present, it will be stated in the vacancy announcement.

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 [phone] 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.