Legal Assistant - Alexandria

DHRM•Alexandria, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

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

Requirements

Working knowledge of office practices and procedures to include creating and editing letters, memos, and legal documents.
Experience using Microsoft applications, specifically Word and Excel.
Familiarity with Google Suite applications, including Gmail, Google Docs, etc.
Experience creating and managing electronic and manual filing systems.
Skills in keyboarding.
Ability to communicate both effectively and compassionately with clients as well as their support networks and other participants in the legal system.
Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience within the criminal justice system will be strongly considered.
Candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish will be strongly considered.

Responsibilities

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.