Spanish Language Legal Assistant - Chesterfield

Title: Spanish Language Legal Assistant - Chesterfield

State Role Title: Spanish Language Legal Assistant - Chesterfield

Hiring Range: $39,725.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: CHESTERFIELD 326

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 Chesterfield Public Defender Office is committed to providing dedicated, compassionate, client-based, and community-embedded representation for the indigent clients that we represent. The Chesterfield Public Defender Office is now accepting applications for the administrative position of Spanish Language Legal Assistant. The qualified candidate will provide administrative and clerical support for attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists and provides translation and interpretation services for the indigent clients of the office. The Spanish Speaking Legal Assistant position reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Chesterfield Office and is employed at-will.

Spanish Fluency is Required. Translation and Interpretation certification is preferred.

Duties:
The Chesterfield County Public Defender Office maintains a zealous, client-centered practice, with a caseload that consists of many Spanish-speaking clients. The Spanish Language Legal Assistant would play a critical role in serving our clientele and providing services in support of our mission through all phases of criminal prosecution. For these reasons, in addition to traditional legal assistant tasks, this position will assist with translation and interpretation for clients, witnesses, and any evidence or discovery that is produced in Spanish. Specific tasks may include:

• Assist attorneys with review of Body Worn Camera and other video evidence produced in Spanish.
• Assist attorneys in reviewing recorded jail calls that are in Spanish.
• Communicate with Spanish-speaking clients and witnesses.
• Assist attorneys and core staff with cross-cultural communication.
• Greeting persons entering the Public Defender Office and operating a multi-line telephone system.
• Screening and forwarding calls, providing information to callers, taking messages, and scheduling appointments.
• Typing, editing, and reviewing memos, letters, and various types of legal documents.
• Maintaining a filing and record-keeping system.
• Collecting, sorting, distributing, and preparing mail.
• Communicating and interacting with public defender office colleagues, clients, and judicial system personnel.
  
  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

• Spanish language fluency and the ability to translate and interpret.
• 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 using Microsoft applications, specifically Word and Excel.
• The position requires familiarity with Google Suite applications, including Gmail, Google Docs, etc.
• The qualified candidate will have experience creating and managing 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 both effectively and compassionately with clients as well as their support networks and other participants in the legal system.

Additional Considerations

• Certification in translation and interpretation services will be strongly considered.
• Experience translating and interpreting in a legal setting will be strongly considered.
• Experience and familiarity with the Chesterfield legal community and court system will be strongly 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.