This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.
What You Will Be Doing
This position provides support to the Office of Public Advocacy’s Public Defense section in Palmer through experienced administrative and communication skills combined with a strong work ethic. The position provides administrative support with the following tasks:
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Filing legal documents with the court and serving parties. Format, edit, proofread and revise documents for correct caption, syntax, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
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Processing incoming and outgoing mail;
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Monitoring the section’s email inbox for incoming court notices, orders, and other documents;
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Organizing paper and electronic files;
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Calendaring deadlines for attorneys;
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Answering incoming phone calls;
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Managing daily office needs such as maintaining office equipment and ordering office supplies.
Our Organization, Mission, and Culture
The Office of Public Advocacy (OPA) provides legal advocacy and guardianship services to indigent and vulnerable Alaskans. The Palmer Criminal Defense section provides skilled and professional court-appointed attorneys for defendants in criminal cases, parents and children in Child in Need of Aid cases, and juveniles in delinquency cases. OPA is a fast-paced work environment comprising individuals who care deeply about their responsibilities to our clients to whom the Agency is appointed.
The Benefits of Joining Our Team
Our office presents the opportunity to work as part of a strong team providing legal services for indigent Alaskans while enhancing your administrative skills and legal acumen.
The Working Environment You Can Expect
The Palmer Criminal Defense office is located in downtown Palmer. Free parking is available. The office is next to the courthouse and near many restaurants and shops. The Law Office Assistant position is part of a larger support team providing administrative support to the office’s attorneys.
Who We Are Looking For
We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:
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Adaptability: adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
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Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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Clerical: Knowledge of filing, typing, entering data, maintaining records, taking shorthand, and using and completing forms.
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Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
PI01A2 – Law Office Assistant 2
One year of specific experience as a Law Office Assistant 1 with the State of Alaska;
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Successful completion of training under a formally established Law Office Assistant 1-2 flexible staffing training plan with the State of Alaska;
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One year of experience in a law office, or other administrative experience that includes the regular, proficient use of electronic management information systems and word processing and other standard business software applications for preparing, reviewing, or processing legal documents such as affidavits, court reports, demand letters, discovery requests or responses, entries of appearances, hearing transcripts, memoranda of advice/instruction, motions, legal opinions, subpoenas, and/or writs.
Substitutions:
A bachelor’s degree in a legal field of study may substitute for the required experience.
An associate’s degree or specific vocational-technical certification in a legal support career area (e.g., paralegal, Law Office Assistant, legal secretary, or criminal justice) may substitute for up to 6 months of the required experience.
Post-secondary education from an accredited college or university in a non-legal field of study may substitute for up to 6 months of the required experience (2.67 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month).
Vocational-Technical Certification in a generalized business support (e.g., administrative office technology, business and marketing management, entrepreneurship, or office assistance) career area may substitute for up to 3 months of the required experience.
Special Note (All Levels):
Most positions require incumbents to be able to obtain a Notary Public upon hire, and to be able to pass a criminal background check to meet security requirements for using criminal record networks such as APSIN and National Crim Enforcement Information Center/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NCIC/NLETS). If this requirement is present, it will be stated in the vacancy announcement.
Some positions are required to work regular overtime during the standard workweek, on weekends, and/or holidays to provide support to the assigned duty attorney. If this requirement is present, it will be stated in the vacancy announcement.
Please read the below information carefully. This applies to your application submission.
THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY
Please be sure to check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.
EDUCATION
If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or within 48 hours of the close of this recruitment to the contact person listed below.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
WORK EXPERIENCE
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
APPLICATION NOTICE
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via hardcopy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to successfully apply. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska "How to Apply" webpage, found here: http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/workplace/help/
EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
NOTICE
If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the ‘govermentjobs.com’ domains. For information on allowing emails from the ‘governmentjobs.com’ domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.
WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to [email protected].
For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword
