Legal Assistant - Franklin/Smithfield

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Franklin (VA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indigent Defense Commission is seeking a Legal Assistant in Franklin/Smithfield to support the Public Defender Office with essential administrative and clerical duties. The role involves greeting visitors, managing calls, and handling legal documents with attention to detail.

Applicants should have strong knowledge of office practices, Microsoft Word and Excel, and Google Suite, plus excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team within a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of office practices and procedures for memos and letters.
• Experience with Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with Google Suite applications.
• Experience creating and managing filing systems (electronic and manual).
• Effective written and oral communication; able to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate compassionately with clients and others in the legal system.

Responsibilities

• Greet persons entering the Public Defender Office and operate a multi-line telephone system.
• Screen and forward calls, provide information, take messages, schedule appointments.
• Type, edit, and review memos, letters, and legal documents.
• Maintain filing and record-keeping system (electronic and manual).
• Sort, distribute, and prepare mail.
• Interact with public defender office colleagues, clients, and judicial system personnel.

Skills

Communication (oral & written)

Independent & collaborative work

Typing / keyboarding

Adaptability in fast-paced environment

Criminal justice familiarity

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Google Docs

Gmail

Job description

Title: Legal Assistant - Franklin/Smithfield

State Role Title:Admin and Office Specialist I

Hiring Range: $42,145.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location:FRANKLIN 313

Agency Website:www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

• Greeting persons entering the Public Defender Office and operating a multi-line telephone system.
• Screening and forwarding calls, providing information to callers, taking messages, and scheduling appointments.
• Typing, editing, and reviewing memos, letters, and various types of legal documents.
• Maintaining a filing and record-keeping system.
• Collecting, sorting, distributing, and preparing mail.
• Communicating and interacting with public defender office colleagues, clients, and judicial system personnel.

The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

• The position requires a working knowledge of office practices and procedures including creating and editing letters, memos, and legal documents.
• The position requires experience using Microsoft applications, specifically Word and Excel.
• The position requires familiarity with Google Suite applications, including Gmail, Google Docs, etc.
• The qualified candidate will have experience creating and managing an electronic and manual filing system and skills in keyboarding.
• The qualified candidate will effectively communicate both orally and in writing and work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-driven environment.
• The Legal Assistant position also requires the ability to communicate both effectively and compassionately with clients as well as their support networks and other participants in the legal system.

Additional Considerations

Prior Experience within the criminal justice system will be strongly considered. Candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish will be strongly considered.