Law Office Assistant

Overview

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

This position provides support to the Public Guardians through experienced administrative and communication skills combined with a strong work ethic. The position provides case opening duties, letter drafting responsibilities, court calendaring duties, bank runs, vital statistics runs, processing discovery, and inputting and retrieving data from our various database systems.

The Office of Public Advocacy (OPA) provides legal advocacy and guardianship services to vulnerable Alaskans. The Public Guardian section provides public guardianship services for incapacitated adults in protective proceedings. We represent the best interests of vulnerable adults in a variety of civil legal proceedings, and we are tasked with helping our clients in Alaska to obtain benefits, housing, food, mental health and medical treatment.

OPA is a fast-paced work environment comprising individuals who care deeply about their responsibilities to our clients to whom the Agency is appointed.

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.

We are located in beautiful downtown Anchorage. We offer free parking, and we have restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance.

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.

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 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 career area may substitute for up to 3 months of the required experience.

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 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.

Please read the below information carefully. This applies…