Legal Assistant - Virginia Beach

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

Job summary

The Virginia Beach Public Defender Office within the Indigent Defense Commission is hiring a Legal Assistant to provide administrative and clerical support for attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists. The role reports to the Chief Public Defender and is employed at-will.

Responsibilities include greeting visitors, handling calls, drafting and editing legal documents, maintaining filings, and coordinating mail and communications with clients and court personnel.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of office practices and procedures.
• Experience using Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with Google Suite applications.
• Experience creating and managing filing systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

MS Word

MS Excel

Google Suite

Filing systems

Keyboarding

Communication

Independent work

Team collaboration

Tools

Google Docs

Gmail

Google Drive

Job description

• Title: Legal Assistant - Virginia Beach
• State Role Title: Admin and Office Specialist I
• Hiring Range: $42,145.00 + State Benefits
• Agency: Indigent Defense Commission
• Location: VIRGINIA BEACH 302
• 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 Virginia Beach Public Defender Office is committed to providing dedicated, compassionate, client-based, and community-embedded representation for our indigent clients. The Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach Office and is employed at-will.

• 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.

Special Instructions

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship.

Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested, during the application and/or interview process.

This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan.

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.