Title: Legal Assistant - Prince William

State Role Title: Legal Assistant - Prince William

Hiring Range: $43,697.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location:PRINCE WILLIAM 311

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 Prince William Public Defender Office is committed to providing dedicated, compassionate, client-based, and community-embedded representation for the indigent clients that we represent. The Prince William 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 Defenders' office. The Legal Assistant position reports to the Public Defender of the Prince Williams Office and is employed at-will.

Duties:
Duties for the position include daily creation and maintenance of digital client files and records, including spreadsheets, client service records and case management system records. They include operating a multi-line telephone system, screening, and forwarding calls, providing information to callers, taking messages, and scheduling appointments. Duties also include transcribing audiotapes of court proceedings; typing a variety of documents including legal documents; maintaining a filing and record-keeping system; collecting, sorting, distributing, and preparing mail and communicating and interacting with public defender office colleagues, clients, and judicial system personnel. This position is responsible for maintaining client files to ensure that each attorney's digital file is completely up-to-date, reflecting all court appearances, client interactions, and substantive work done in the case. The Legal Assistant candidate will communicate effectively and compassionately with clients, client support networks, and with members of the public or other members of the legal community.

TheIDCis 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 both direct client contact and a significant amount of data entry and file maintenance in a digital/paperless office. As a result, the successful candidate will have both the ability to listen, communicate and relate to others on a professional level, and also aptitude with computer software, to include word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications. The successful candidate should have experience using Microsoft applications, including Word and Excel, and Google Suite applications, such as Gmail, Google Docs, etc. The successful candidate will take pride in producing and maintaining thorough, accurate, and comprehensive records and client files, enabling the work of the larger team in serving the needs of our clients. The qualified candidate will be adept at working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-driven environment and should welcome training and feedback on a regular basis. The Legal Assistant position also requires the ability to effectively and compassionately communicate with our court-involved clients, as well as with their support networks and other participants in the legal system.

Additional Considerations

Fluent Spanish speakers will be strongly considered Prior experience providing administrative support in the Public Defense space or in another legal environment will be considered.

Special Instructions

Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

While creating an account through the state system will save your basic information (please remember your username and password), applications are NOT saved for future openings. We encourage you to apply to any and all of the positions you may be considering within the IDC.

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.

Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. IDC does not accept "see resume" as a response to any question. Information on the application is the primary source used for screening the position. 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.

Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry into the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates.

Contact Information

Name: Ashley Washington

Phone: 804-662-7249

Email: recruiting@vadefenders.org

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.