Legal Assistant

Federal-Defender-Services-of-Idah; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 45,409 - 72,644; Full time

Job summary

Federal Defender Services of Idaho, Inc is hiring a Legal Assistant to support paralegals and trial attorneys in Boise. The role handles document management, calendar maintenance, new case intake, and court coordination.

You will assist with client contact, prepare filings, edit drafts, and manage deadlines while learning CMF/ECF processes. A strong organizational skill set and ability to multitask are essential.

Qualifications

• Commitment to diverse communities and clients from varied backgrounds.
• Excellent computer and communication skills; proficient with MS Office.
• Strong organizational ability and quick learner for new software.
• Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and multi-task.

Responsibilities

• Provide litigation and case support; manage document workflow.
• Maintain office calendar and coordinate court-related activities.
• Assist with client contact, inquiries, and file preparation.
• Prepare documents for e-filing and proofread correspondence.

Skills

Computer skills

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Organization

Multi-tasking

Education

High-school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree (substitution for one year of experience)

Tools

CaseMap

PowerPoint

Adobe Acrobat

Lexis/Nexis

Westlaw

Job description

Federal Defender Services of Idaho, Inc Legal Assistant Boise, ID·Full time Company website

About Federal Defender Services of Idaho, Inc

Federal Defender Services of Idaho was originally established in 1994 as a branch office of the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho. Federal Defender organizations are established under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. The organization is a non-profit corporation managed by a Board of Directors. It is funded by a yearly grant from the Congress of the United States administered by the Administrative Office of the United States courts in Washington, D.C. As a Community Defender program it is mandated by the Sixth Amendment of United States Constitution - the right to effective assistance of counsel. The caseload ranges from petty offenses, to multi-defendant drug conspiracies, sophisticated white-collar fraud offenses, computer crimes, and serious crimes. Our mission is to defend poor people facing loss of liberty to the best of our ability. To that end, we hold the government to account — fighting to make sure the rights and interests of the indigent receive the same respect as those of the rich. We pursue compassion and humanity in our courts — arguing for truly parsimonious sentencing in the face of brutal federal prison conditions and harsh and irrational federal sentencing guidelines. We honor our clients’ inherent dignity and character — walking with them every step of the way as they endure the might of state power. And we help others who share our commitments — working to grow and maintain a federal criminal defense bar that is dedicated to the art of zealous indigent criminal defense. It is our honor to stand up in court for those who have been left behind. At FDSI, we are committed to our core values: Compassion for our clients and ourselves Integrity in our words and actions Respect; assuming positive intent and owning responsibility for our actions regardless of our intent; and Always serving our clients’ best interests By fulfilling its mission, this organization helps maintain public confidence in the nation's commitment to equal justice under law and ensure the successful operation of the constitutionally-based adversary system of justice by which federally guaranteed rights are enforced. As was stated so eloquently in 1963, from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Description

Federal Defender Services of Idaho (FDSI) is accepting applications for the full-time position of Legal Assistant in our Boise trial unit. FDSI operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, to provide defense services to indigent persons in federal criminal cases and related matters in the federal courts.

We have trial units in Boise and Pocatello and a capital habeas unit in Boise. FDSI is not an agency of the federal government, and our staff members are not federal employees. We are a not-for-profit Community Defender Organization. See 18 U.S.C. §3006A(g)(2)(B).

Job Description

The legal assistant works directly with paralegals and trial attorneys to provide essential litigation and case support, assisting with document management, maintaining the office-wide calendar, new case intake and coordination of court-related activities.

DUTIES

• Receive, screen, and refer telephone and in-person callers. Assist attorneys with client contact and answer.
• General inquiries according to office policy.
• Retrieve and deliver documents to the court.
• Perform legal assistant functions for multiple trial attorneys.
• Utilize advanced knowledge of legal terminology, word and information-processing software.
• Understand federal rules and protocols for CMF/ECF e-filing in federal criminal cases.
• Edit and proofread initial drafts, perform cite checking, and prepare correspondence to clients.
• Review incoming mail and distribute appropriately.
• Assemble attachments and prepare documents for e-filing.
• Order transcripts as instructed by trial attorneys.
• Accurately and timely maintain Outlook calendar for assigned trial attorneys by posting/updating court deadlines and hearings.
• Perform a variety of other office, case, and attorney support duties as they arise.

Required Qualifications

• A demonstrated commitment to and comfort working with diverse communities and with clients from a range of backgrounds.
• Excellent computer and communication skills are required; familiarity with Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Demonstrated, excellent organization and technology skills with a willingness and ability to learn new skills or software applications.
• The ability to set priorities, meet critical deadlines and multi-task.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• High-school graduate or equivalent.
• At least 3 years of full-time work experience, or the equivalent.
• At least one year of which must be specialized experience relevant to this position.
• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree, subject to certain requirements, may be substituted for one year of specialized experience.
• The Legal Assistant must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

Preferred Qualifications

• College graduate; ideal for recent graduates from an accredited paralegal or criminal justice program.
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) language skills.
• A demonstrated interest in and/or commitment to indigent criminal defense.
• Familiarity and skill with other relevant applications such as CaseMap, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Professional, Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, etc.
• Legal secretarial experience preferred, ideally in the federal court system.

Conditions of Employment

• Selected candidate must pass a background check
• Employees are "at-will" and are not covered by the Civil Service Reform Act
• Employment is provisional pending satisfactory completion of a year probationary period
• Employees may not engage in other full-time employment without written consent from the Executive Director
• Work hours for this position will be Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Salary and Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Salary range: Judicial Pay Scale (JSP) 6-8, $45,409-$72,644, health coverage, and retirement plan.

Application Deadline

Position open until filled, but priority will be given to applications received by August 31, 2026.