EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

 

The Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office (MCPDO) seeks zealous and dedicated administrative professionals to serve as Administrative Assistants. All MCPDO employees will provide high quality representation to indigent defendants. An Ideal Executive Administrative Assistant combines demonstrated interest in the representation of indigent clients with superior administrative skills. The Executive Administrative Assistant will report directly to the Public Defender, and is responsible for providing administrative and clerical support services to the Public Defender. An Executive Administrative Assistant is one of several non-legal and legal professionals on the MCPDO team who work together to ensure that clients receive the highest level of legal and professional services possible. Because the performance requirements of this position entail regular access to highly privileged and confidential information, an Administrative Assistant must comport oneself in a manner consistent with the responsibilities entrusted to the position.

 

 

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES:

 

The specific job duties of the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Public Defender include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Acts as liaison between Public Defender and other staff members or the public sector. Knows the Defender’s basic policies, viewpoints and goals. May be required to speak, act or write on behalf of the Public Defender. When the Defender is out of the office for an extended time, this Legal Secretary consults with the Deputy Attorneys, or other in-charge supervising attorneys, in matters that require immediate attention. Routes or initiates responses to phone calls and incoming mail on behalf of the Public Defender;
  • Performs the function of a Legal Assistant to the Public Defender utilizing advanced knowledge of legal terminology, word and information processing software. Understands district and circuit court rules and protocols. Edits and proofreads initial drafts, transcribes dictation, performs cite checking and assembles copies with attachments for filing and mailing. Provides support for case preparation (e.g. files cases electronically, prepares and coordinates exhibits, organizes discovery, etc.);
  • Arranges Public Defender’s schedule and court calendar, providing daily updates. Assists in the planning of meetings and conferences for the Public Defender. Manages business travel itineraries for the Public Defender, to include reserving plane tickets, auto rental, and hotel lodging in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations;
  • Relieves the Public Defender of routine details. Checks pleadings, reports and correspondence for accuracy and conformance to stated policies, procedures and rules. Prepares agendas and notes for meetings and conferences. Composes and signs any routine correspondence, as authorized;
  • Prepares necessary routine reports. Gathers information from files and other readily available sources. Obtains factual information for special reports as requested by the Public Defender that may involve research and/or contact with other offices. Compiles and completes data for administrative and public reports, bulletins, questionnaires, and other documents; prepares moderately complex work sheets and tables from standardized data; prepares moderately complex work sheets and tables from standardized data; prepares simple statistical summaries;
  • Performs expanded administrative duties in areas such as personnel, procurement, panel management, and budget; and
  • Performs all other duties as assigned.

 

 

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

 

  • A comprehensive knowledge of legal secretarial principles, practices, methods and techniques;
  • The ability to identify and evaluate pertinent facts and regulations, policies and precedents;
  • Skill and judgment in the analysis of assignments;
  • An understanding of administrative and secretarial duties in a legal environment;
  • The ability to exercise good judgment in a mature and diplomatic manner;
  • The ability to recognize and analyze problems and recommend practical solutions;
  • Experience as a secretary or legal assistant performing progressively responsible duties; and
  • Skills and ability to execute the duties of the position.

 

 

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

 

  • Experience as a secretary or legal assistant performing progressively responsible duties in the functional areas described in the Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities section above, or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in such fields as business or public administration, criminal justice, political science, law, management or other field closely related to the subject matter of the position is required. Completion of one academic year of graduate study in an accredited university in the aforementioned fields of study is highly desirable. Completion of a master’s degree or two years of graduate study in an accredited university in the aforementioned fields of study, or completion of a Juris Doctor (JD), will be highly preferred.
  • Proficient in various computer applications including the MS Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat and other legal office software; and
  • Solid keyboarding ability.

 

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

Salary Range: $30,724.80 - $46,615.20

 

Employees of the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office receive State of Alabama employee benefits including:

 

  • Low-Cost Health/Dental Insurance (Single Coverage);
  • Optional Family Coverage (Health/Dental);
  • Accrue Thirteen Annual Leave Days per Year;
  • Accrue Thirteen Sick Days per Year;
  • Thirteen Paid Holidays per Year;
  • Retirement Plan; and
  • Flexible Employee Benefit Plans.

 

 

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply without regard to age, color, national origin,

disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression.

 

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to careers@montgomerydefender.org. Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line.

Positions within the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office are at-will and not subject to the State of Alabama’s Merit System.