Legal Assistant - Suffolk

Commonwealth of Virginia; Suffolk (VA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission is seeking a Legal Assistant for the Suffolk Public Defender Office. This administrative position provides support to attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists, reporting to the Chief Public Defender of the Suffolk Office.

At-will employment is noted. Responsibilities include greeting visitors, managing calls, drafting and editing legal documents, filing, mail handling, and coordinating with staff and clients.

Qualifications

• Experience creating and editing letters, memos, and legal documents.
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Familiar with Google Suite applications (Gmail, Docs, etc.).
• Experience maintaining an electronic and manual filing system; strong keyboarding skills.
• Effective written and oral communication; ability to work independently and in a team.
• Ability to interact with clients and participants in the legal system.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors and operate a multi-line telephone system.
• Screen and forward calls, provide information, take messages, and schedule appointments.
• Typing, editing, and reviewing memos, letters, and legal documents.
• Maintain a filing and record-keeping system.
• Collect, sort, distribute, and prepare mail.
• Communicate with colleagues, clients, and judicial system personnel.

Skills

Office administration

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Google Suite

Filing systems

Typing/keyboarding

Written and oral communication

Independent and team collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Google Docs/Sheets

Multi-line telephone system

Job description

Title: Legal Assistant - Suffolk

State Role Title: Admin and Office Specialist I

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: SUFFOLK 314

Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC), a Commonwealth of Virginia Independent Agency, is dedicated to protecting and defending the rights of our clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. The Suffolk Public Defender Office is committed to providing dedicated, compassionate, client-based, and community-embedded representation for our indigent clients. The Suffolk Public Defender Office is now accepting applications for the administrative position of Legal Assistant. The qualified candidate will provide administrative and clerical support for attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists in the Public Defender office. The Legal Assistant position reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Suffolk Office and is employed at-will.

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 legal system will be strongly considered. Experience working in a law firm or in the Virginia court system will be strongly considered.

Contact Information

Name: Ashley Washington

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.