Entry Level Paralegal Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

Job Description This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify. What You Will Be Doing This position provides clerical support to a team of attorneys defending clients in criminal litigation.

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. This is a flexibly staffed position which means that it can be filled at either the 1 or 2 level, depending on the applicant's training and experience.

If the position is filled at the lower level, the employee will be assigned increasingly complex cases to develop their skills and knowledge to perform at the higher level. Once the employee hired at the lower level demonstrates proficiency at the higher level and meets the minimum qualifications, they will be promoted to the higher range. The Working Environment You Can Expect The office is located in downtown Anchorage near the Nesbett and Boney courthouses.

The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM with an hour lunch at noon. Downtown parking is provided by the Agency near the office. This position works closely with attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and other law office assistants.

Who We Are Looking For To be successful in the position, the ideal candidate will possess the following core competencies: Technology Application: Uses machines, tools, instruments, or equipment effectively; uses computers and computer applications to analyze and communicate information in the appropriate format. Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Information Assurance: Knowledge of methods and procedures to protect information systems and data by ensuring their availability, authentication, confidentiality, and integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Law Office Assistant 1 Minimum Qualifications (Range: 11) One year of experience that involves some combination of providing significant customer service contact; eliciting or exchanging information as related to requirements or procedures necessary to secure services, authorizations, or goods on behalf of the client; and/or performing standard administrative tasks such as preparing correspondence or reports, filing, entering data, receiving payments, and/or maintaining logs and includes the regular, proficient use of electronic management information systems and word processing and other standard business software applications. Substitutions: Any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college or university (2.67 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month) in any area of study and/or applicable experience, as defined above, may substitute for the required experience. 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. Special Note (All Levels): 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 National Crim Enforcement Information Center/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (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. Law Office Assistant 2 Minimum Qualifications (Range: 13) 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 (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): 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 National Crim Enforcement Information Center/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (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. 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 (3) professional references, two who have had supervisory experience over you, including current email and/or daytime phone number SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THE POSITION Alaska Driver's License desired.

ACOMS CLEARANCE Due to the nature of the work of the Public Defender Agency and access to ACOMS at the workplace, the individual who is selected for this position will be required to pass a background investigation and may be re-fingerprinted. Full disclosure of ALL past criminal convictions (both misdemeanor and felony including suspended impositions of sentence) at the time of application is required. Convictions may lead to disqualification due to the requirements necessary to access these systems FLEXIBLY STAFFED This position is flexibly staffed.

This vacancy may be filled at either level, depending on the applicant's training and/or experience. The full range of salaries is listed above. Starting salary will be determined by the level of the position.

If filled at a lower level, promotion to the higher level will only occur upon successful completion of the probationary period and the required training, provided the applicant meets the minimum qualifications of the higher job class and receives final approval from the supervisor. EDUCATION To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, 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 used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts) Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment. 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 athttps://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 Ana Fangatua Paralegal Specialist 1 (907) 334-4400 ana.fangatua@alaska.gov