Public Defender Legal Assistant

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

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

State benefits

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Virginia is seeking a Legal Assistant in Franklin/Smithfield to provide administrative and clerical support for attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists within the Public Defender Office. This at-will position reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Smithfield Office and emphasizes organized filing, call handling, and client coordination.

The role requires proficiency in Word, Excel, and Google Suite, with strong communication skills and the ability to work

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of office practices and procedures (letters, memos, legal documents)
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel
• Familiarity with Google Suite apps (Gmail, Google Docs)
• Experience creating/managing electronic and manual filing systems; keyboarding skills
• Strong oral and written communication; able to work independently and in teams
• Ability to communicate compassionately with clients and other stakeholders in a legal setting

Responsibilities

• Greeting visitors and operating a multi-line phone system
• Screening calls, scheduling appointments, and forwarding information
• Typing, editing, and reviewing memos and legal documents
• Maintaining filing and record-keeping systems
• Distributing mail and coordinating mail handling
• Interacting with clients, public defender colleagues, and judicial personnel

Skills

Office procedures

Communication (oral/written)

Independent & collaborative work

Typing/keyboarding

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Google Suite

Job description

The Commonwealth of Virginia is seeking a Legal Assistant in Franklin/Smithfield to provide administrative and clerical support for attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists within the Public Defender Office. This at-will position reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Smithfield Office and emphasizes organized filing, call handling, and client coordination.

The role requires proficiency in Word, Excel, and Google Suite, with strong communication skills and the ability to work