Law Office Assistant

What You Will Be Doing

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

The Office of Public Advocacy (OPA) offers legal advocacy and guardianship services to vulnerable Alaskans. The Public Guardian section serves incapacitated adults in protective proceedings, representing their best interests in civil legal cases and helping clients obtain benefits, housing, food, mental health, and medical treatment. OPA is a fast‑paced environment populated by individuals deeply committed to client responsibilities.

Our office offers a strong team environment, advocacy opportunities for vulnerable Alaskans, and a chance to enhance administrative skills and legal acumen.

We are located in downtown Anchorage, offering free parking and nearby restaurants and coffee shops.

• Adaptability: adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple 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 completing forms.
• Computer
  
  Skills:
  
  uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

Experience Requirements:

• One year 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 in a law office or administrative role that includes regular, proficient use of electronic management information systems, word processing, and other standard business software 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.

A bachelor’s degree in a legal field 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 six months of the required experience. Post‑secondary education from an accredited college or university in a non‑legal field may substitute for up to six months of the required experience (2.67 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month).

A vocational‑technical certification in a generalized business support career area may substitute for up to three months of the required experience.

Many positions require incumbents to obtain a Notary Public upon hire and to pass a criminal background check to meet security requirements for using criminal record networks such as APSIN and NCIC/NLETS. Overtime, weekend, and holiday work may be required and will be stated in the vacancy announcement.

Post‑secondary education may be required to meet minimum qualifications. If a degree hasn’t been obtained, indicate the number of units completed. Transcripts are required for verification and can be attached at application or within 48 hours of the close of recruitment.

When using work experience not already documented, provide the employer’s name, job title, dates of employment, and whether full‑ or part‑time. Applications will be reviewed to ensure responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met.

Applications must be submitted through the Workplace Alaska website or in hardcopy. If accessed through a job search portal such as Alaska Jobs, use a Workplace Alaska application to apply.

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