What are the responsibilities and job description for the Law Office Assistant 1/2 position at State of Alaska?
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.
The Working Environment You Can Expect
The office is located in Ketchikan. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM with an hour lunch at noon. The position works with Agency attorneys, paralegals, and investigators in the Ketchikan office.
Who We Are Looking For
We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:
- Clerical: applies knowledge of clerical equipment and software, processes, techniques, and professional standards to complete routine office work to generally accepted professional standards. Completes work independently with minimal supervision. Uses skills and abilities to complete tasks consisting of many different and connected parts, including deciding which processes to use.
At the 2 level, we are looking for someone with the following competency:
- Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
Minimum Qualifications
Substitutions:
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.
PI01A2 – Law Office Assistant 2
Substitutions:
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):
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.
At time of interview, please be prepared to provide:
College transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications)
Three professional references, two who have had supervisory experience over you, including current email and/or daytime phone number
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. Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or within 48 hours of the close of this recruitment to the contact person listed below.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
WORK EXPERIENCE
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
APPLICATION NOTICE
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via hardcopy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to successfully apply. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska "How to Apply" webpage, found here: http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/workplace/help/
EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
NOTICE
If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the ‘govermentjobs.com’ domains. For information on allowing emails from the ‘governmentjobs.com’ domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.
WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.
For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword
Contact Information
Bradie Tucker
Paralegal Specialist 2
bradie.tucker@alaska.govThe following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.
For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)
Insurance Benefits
- Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
- AVTEC
- Confidential
- Correctional Officers
- Marine Engineers
- Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
- Supervisory
- Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
- Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
- The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
- General Government
- Labor, Trades and Crafts
- Public Safety Employees Association
- Masters, Mates & Pilots
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
- Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)
- Group-based insurance premiums for
- Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
- Long-term and short-term disability
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
- Supplemental Survivor Benefits
- Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses
Retirement Benefits
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
- Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
- Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
- Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
- Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
- Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options
- Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
- Twelve (12) paid holidays a year