Legal Assistant - Franklin/Smithfield

Job Duties: 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 Smithfield Public Defender Office is committed to providing dedicated, compassionate, client-based, and community-embedded representation for our indigent clients. The Smithfield 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 Defender office. The Legal Assistant position reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Smithfield Office and is employed at-will. ● 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. The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Minimum Qualifications: ● The position requires a working knowledge of office practices and procedures including creating and editing letters, memos, and legal documents. ● The position requires experience using Microsoft applications, specifically Word and Excel. ● The position requires familiarity with Google Suite applications, including Gmail, Google Docs, etc. ● The qualified candidate will have experience creating and managing an electronic and manual filing system and skills in keyboarding. ● The qualified candidate will effectively communicate both orally and in writing and work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-driven environment. ● The Legal Assistant position also requires the ability to communicate both effectively and compassionately with clients as well as their support networks and other participants in the legal system. Additional Considerations Prior Experience within the criminal justice system will be strongly considered. Candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish will be strongly considered. Eligibility & Background Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested, during the application and/or interview process. This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan. Contact Information Name: Ashley Washington

Phone: 804-662-7249

Email: recruiting@vadefenders.org

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.