Legal Assistant - Newport News

Title: Legal Assistant - Newport News

Hiring Range: $37,091.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: NEWPORT NEWS 323

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 Newport News Public Defender Office is committed to providing dedicated, compassionate, client-based, and community-embedded representation for the indigent clients that we represent. The Newport News 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 Newport News Office and is employed at-will.

Duties:
Duties for the position include greeting persons entering the Public Defender Office as well as operating a multi-line telephone system, screening and forwarding calls, providing information to callers, taking messages and scheduling appointments. Additional qualifications include typing a variety of documents to include but not limited to memos, letters and various types of 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. 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.

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 to include creating and editing letters, memos and legal documents. The position requires experience in use of computer software to include word processing, spreadsheet and database applications and specifically experience using Microsoft applications to include, Word and Excel. The position requires familiarity with Google Suite applications, to include 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 effectively and compassionately with clients, their support networks, and other participants in the legal system.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience providing administrative and clerical support in a criminal justice-related environment is preferred.

Special Instructions: 

RMS provides a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS account to check the status of your application for this position.

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.

You will receive a confirmation number once your application has been successfully submitted. Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry to the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates.

Contact Information:

Name: Ashley Washington

Phone: 8046627249

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 Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.