Law Office Assistant 1/2 (02-1229)

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

What You Will Be Doing

No prior legal experience is required, this is an exciting opportunity for those looking to start their career or move into a new job field. Many of our Law Office Assistants do not have any legal experience and we provide on the job training to ensure your success.

This position provides clerical support to attorneys and Agency administrators. Law Office Assistants maintain case file information digitally and in physical files, process police reports and evidence, answer phones, file pleadings with the Court and opposing counsel, prepare routine legal documents, and assist clients. Law Office Assistants play a significant role in ensuring that administrative tasks are handled effectively and the office runs smoothly.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel in many types of cases and the Public Defender Agency is appointed by the Court to represent people who are unable to afford counsel on their own.    Law Office Assistants are an integral part of providing that representation and protecting our clients' rights.  Law Office Assistants work closely with attorneys and other Agency staff to make sure evidence and case materials are processed and distributed quickly. They often serve as important points of contact for the Court system, opposing counsel, and the public.

 

The Benefits of Joining Our Team

Support staff at the Public Defender Agency have the opportunity to learn about the legal system and hone their administrative and clerical skills to further their career development in the legal field.  Most importantly, they get to do this while working as a team to provide meaningful contributions to Alaska, as the work we do impacts people’s lives and protects the constitutional rights of all Alaskans.   This important work helps improve case outcomes for individuals charged with crimes, helps re-unify families, and provides the foundation for successful re-entry into communities. This is an entry level position and many Law Office Assistants use the skills and experience they gain to promote to paralegal, investigative, and administrative management positions within the Agency, the State of Alaska, or the private sector. 

Your first 6 months in the Agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal and on-the-job training with your supervisor and your colleagues.

This is a flexibly staffed position which means that it can be filled at either the 1 or 2 level, depending on the applicant's training and experience. If the position is filled at the lower level, the employee will be assigned increasingly complex cases to develop their skills and knowledge to perform at the higher level. Once the employee hired at the lower level demonstrates proficiency at the higher level and meets the minimum qualifications, they will be promoted to the higher range. 

 

The Working Environment You Can Expect 

The office is located in Kenai near the Kenai courthouse. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM with an hour lunch at noon. This position works closely with attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and other law office assistants.