Legal Assistant

United States Courts; Alpine (TX); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits (FERS)

FEHB health benefits

FEDVIP dental/vision

FEGLI life insurance

Job summary

The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas is accepting applications for the position of Legal Assistant, to be stationed in the Alpine office. The Legal Assistant provides legal secretarial and clerical support services for one or more Assistant Federal Defenders.

The duties include managing attorney calendars, handling calls, maintaining case files, drafting documents, performing conflict checks, and delivering documents to the courthouse.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years general experience and 1 year specialized (relevant coursework may substitute).
• Sound judgment; apply policies; recommend practical solutions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
• Spanish fluency.
• Preferred: Prior law office experience.
• Employment contingent on a satisfactory background check (FBI name & fingerprints).

Responsibilities

• Manage attorney calendars, including court settings and filing deadlines.
• Answer and route calls; handle general inquiries professionally.
• Maintain organized, accurate case files and records.
• Draft and review legal documents, briefs, and correspondence in Word; verify accuracy.
• Perform conflict checks as required.
• Provide office support: heavy word processing, filing, photocopying, translating (oral/written), and mail routing.
• Deliver documents to the courthouse as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Spanish fluency

Strong communication

Independent worker

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Overview of the Position The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas is accepting applications for the position of Legal Assistant, to be stationed in the Alpine office. The Legal Assistant provides legal secretarial and clerical support services for one or more Assistant Federal Defenders.

The Legal Assistant provides legal secretarial and clerical support services for one or more Assistant Federal Defenders. The duties of a Legal Assistant include:

• Manage attorney calendars, including court settings and filing deadlines.
• Answer and route calls; handle general inquiries professionally.
• Maintain organized, accurate case files and records.
• Draft and review legal documents, briefs, and correspondence in Word; verify accuracy.
• Perform conflict checks as required.
• Provide office support: heavy word processing, filing, photocopying, translating (oral/written), and mail routing.
• Deliver documents to the courthouse as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years general experience and 1 year specialized (relevant coursework may substitute).
• Sound judgment; apply policies; recommend practical solutions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
• Proactive; works independently and collaborates effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Thrives in a high‑volume, fast‑paced law office.
• Spanish fluency.
• Preferred: Prior law office experience.
• Employment contingent on a satisfactory background check (FBI name & fingerprints).

Employee Benefits

• Retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System.
• Optional participation in Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB).
• Optional participation in Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).
• Optional participation in Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI).
• Position is excepted service, without competitive civil service tenure.

Application Info

• Cover letter and resume.
• Three professional references with their contact information.
• Form AO-78 – All sections of the AO-78 must be completed in full, with dates in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy.

To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, contact Human Resources at [phone].

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.