Law Office Assistant 1/2

Job Description

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our

residency definition

to determine if you qualify.

This position will be filled at either the Law Office Assistant 1 or Law Office Assistant 2 level, depending on the selected applicant's qualifications and job experience.

What You Will Be Doing

This position provides support to the Office of Public Advocacy’s Juneau Civil section through experienced administrative and communication skills combined with a strong work ethic.  The position’s regular duties include: mail and email tracking, reception of clients and members of the public, case opening tasks, letter drafting, court calendaring, discovery processing, and interaction with our various database systems.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The Juneau Civil office of the Office of Public Advocacy (OPA) provides legal advocacy for children in Child in Need of Aid matters and domestic relations cases.   The office also provides guardianship and conservatorship services to vulnerable adult Alaskans.  OPA is a fast-paced work environment comprising individuals who care deeply about their responsibilities to our clients for 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 advocacy on behalf of vulnerable Alaskans while enhancing your administrative skills and legal acumen. This position is flexibly staffed, with built-in career advancement from the entry level Law Office Assistant 1 (LOA 1) to the next level, Law Office Assistant 2 (LOA 2).

The Working Environment You Can Expect

Our small and friendly office is located in beautiful downtown Juneau. Free parking is available within walking distance.  The office is next to the courthouse and near many restaurants and shops.

Who We Are Looking For

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

Adaptability

: adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.

Attention to Detail:

Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

Clerical:

Knowledge of filing, typing, entering data, maintaining records, taking shorthand, and using and completing forms.

Computer Skills:

Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work

Minimum Qualifications

Law Office Assistant 1 Minimum Qualifications (Range:11)

One year of experience that involves some combination of providing significant customer service contact; eliciting or exchanging information as related to requirements or procedures necessary to secure services, authorizations, or goods on behalf of the client; and/or performing standard administrative tasks such as preparing correspondence or reports, filing, entering data, receiving payments, and/or maintaining logs and includes the regular, proficient use of electronic management information systems and word processing and other standard business software applications.

Substitutions:

Any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college or university (2.67 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month) in any area of study and/or applicable experience, as defined above, may substitute for the required experience.

An associate’s degree or specific vocational-technical certification in a legal support career area (e.g., paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretary, or criminal justice) may substitute for the required experience.

Vocational-technical certification in a generalized business support career area (e.g., administrative office technology, business and marketing management, entrepreneurship, or office assistance) may substitute for up to 6 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.

Law Office Assistant 2 Minimum Qualifications (Range:13)

One year of specific experience as a Law Office Assistant 1 with the State of Alaska;

OR

Successful completion of training under a formally established Law Office Assistant 1-2 flexible staffing training plan with the State of Alaska;

OR

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.

Additional Required Information

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.

FLEXIBLY STAFFED

This position is flexibly staffed. This vacancy may be filled at either the 2, or 3 levels, depending on the applicant's training and/or experience. The full range of salaries is listed above. Starting salary will be determined by the level of the position. If filled at a lower level, promotion to the higher level will only occur upon successful completion of the probationary period and the required training, provided the applicant meets the minimum qualifications of the higher job class and receives final approval from the supervisor.

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. Transcr