THE POSITION:
The Federal Public Defender Office for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island is hiring a full-time Administrative Assistant to the Federal Public Defender in the Boston, Massachusetts office. This announcement is open until filled with priority consideration given to applications received by September 23, 2022.
WHAT WE DO:
The Federal Public Defender Office is a law office that provides legal representation to persons charged with committing federal crimes who cannot afford to hire an attorney. We represent the accused from arrest through trial and appeal, including the U.S. Supreme Court and federal habeas corpus review.
We work together to uphold every person’s right to be presumed innocent and to a fair sentence if convicted. Our defense is vigorous, both at trial and on appeal. We advocate for humane sentences by showing judges and prosecutors that we represent people, not criminals.
WHO WE ARE:
We are attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, investigators, office administrators, and information technology specialists committed to cultivating a culture of acceptance and connectedness that honors the diverse backgrounds of the people we represent.
We value diversity and a commitment to equality, and we believe better legal representation occurs when members of the defense team have diverse backgrounds and experiences. In recruiting members of our team, we welcome the full spectrum of humanity. We embrace the unique contributions that you can bring, including your culture, ethnicity, education, opinions, race, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, and economic status.
WHO YOU ARE:
You are a trusted, reliable, and efficient assistant who is eager to partner with members of the defense team so the office can provide exceptional legal services. You multitask effectively, have exceptional organizational skills, and are eager to learn new systems. You are a capable user of technology and understand its utility. You see the problems, but also the solutions, and you harness creativity, dedication, and persistence to overcome the challenges. Your communication with others is based in empathy and compassion, and you thrive in a fast-paced environment. You have high standards and want people to be treated fairly and respectfully, no matter the allegation or circumstance.
WHAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER DOES:
Receives, screens, and refers telephone calls.
Communicates with clients (many of whom are incarcerated) and their families regarding court dates and attorney conferences. Maintains client confidences and protects the attorney-client privilege.
Screens incoming mail and routes it to the appropriate destination.
Prepares outgoing correspondence based either on general instruction or a prescribed format. Arranges for mail services and ensures outgoing mail is correctly processed.
Maintains attorney calendars, sets appointments, and arranges meetings and conferences. Reminds attorneys of calendar commitments, and informs participants of date, time, and location.
Proofreads and edits drafts of legal documents and, once finalized, assembles court filings and appendices for electronic submission to the appropriate court.
Formats legal documents, creates tables of contents and tables of authorities, and prepares appendices before filing in the federal court of appeals or the federal district court.
Creates and organizes attorney case files in electronic or hardcopy form. Closes files when cases are complete.
Arranges Defender’s schedule and court calendar, providing daily updates. Assists in the planning of meetings and conferences for the Defender.
Manages business travel itineraries for the Defender and/or Supervisors, including plane reservations, auto rental and hotel lodging in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.
Communicates with court personnel, staff at the United States Attorney’s Office, and other stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
Exercises good judgment and discretion, and performs other tasks as assigned.
SALARY AND BENEFITS: Starting salary for the Administrative Assistant position will be set commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the applicant, JSP-9/1 to JSP-12/10, currently yielding $61,268 to $115,510 per annum.
Priority consideration will be given to applications received by September 23, 2022. We are an equal opportunity employer.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
Experience using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Acrobat, Excel and other technology to review, process, and organize large amounts of information.
Must be a high school graduate or equivalent with at least five years of legal secretarial experience. Experience must be in either criminal or appellate litigation.
Experience using a multiline telephone system to receive, screen, and refer calls.
Experience working with diverse groups of people, such as economically disadvantaged people, people with emotional or mental health challenges, and those from disenfranchised communities.
The ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment. The ability to write and speak clearly.
The ability to keep confidences and to protect relevant legal privileges.
The desire to work, as part of a team, for the benefit of those accused of committing federal crimes.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
Experience as a legal administrative assistant or a legal secretary assisting criminal defense teams.
Experience editing, proofreading, and preparing documents for filing in the federal district courts and the federal courts of appeals.
Experience formatting legal pleadings and using Microsoft Word to create tables of contents and tables of authorities.
Experience assembling documents and appendices. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw and LexisNexis. Familiarity with legal citation guides like the Bluebook.
Familiarity with the rules and protocols used by federal district courts and federal courts of appeal A curiosity to learn new systems and different office technology.
Considerable resourcefulness, initiative, creativity, and compassion.
Spanish fluency.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants must send an e-mail titled “Administrative Assistant” with:
A Cover Letter;
A Resume; and
Form AO-78 (found at https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/ao078.pdf)
Send all items listed above to [email protected].
*No Calls Please. Applicants who apply without submitting all three documents will not be considered. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by September 23, 2022. We are an equal opportunity employer.
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