Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant

Colorado's Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) maintains a reputation as one of the top organizations in the nation specializing in the delivery of indigent criminal defense. We operate as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch of Colorado StateGovernment with nearly 1,000 dedicated employees assigned to twenty-one Regional Trial Offices, a centralized Appellate Division, and a centralized Administrative Office. The mission of OSPD is to defend and protect the rights, liberties and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We seek to hire professionals who are dedicated to furthering our mission and demonstrate compassion in their service to our clients. We are a fast paced, team-oriented environment, where self-motivation and a personal commitment to high performance are important attributes for success.

We are recruiting to fill an Administrative Assistant position in Colorado State Public Defender's Appellate office. This is a full-time, entry-level Administrative Assistant position responsible for performing routine clerical and receptionist duties of a legal nature following established office procedures. Tasks are performed under direct guidance of an Office Manager or Supervisor while learning office and court procedures and case file management systems. Individuals must have strong interpersonal skills in order to successfully work with colleagues and court staff and to provide patient and compassionate service to indigent persons charged with criminal offenses. The work environment is fast-paced and has a high volume of telephone calls, client interactions and various interruptions. Individuals require the ability to multitask and perform tasks in a timely manner with accuracy and attention to detail.

Primary duties and responsibilities include:

• Performs general reception duties including answering phones with multiple lines. Screens calls, takes messages and refers callers to the appropriate person, office or agency. Greets and assists onsite visitors such as, clients, coworkers, and other agency personnel. Provides general office support. Maintains the lobby and mail area.
• Performs high-volume administrative support functions with a focus on incoming and outgoing mail related to appellate matters. Responsible for timely processing, distribution, and tracking of correspondence, filings, and court documents. Accurately relays critical information to attorneys and legal staff to support appellate deadlines and case progression. Provides permitted procedural and case-status information to clients and non-clients as it pertains to the appellate process, including attorney assignment and scheduled court dates, while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with office policies.
• Opens, enters data and updates, and may close client files in the online case management system. Moves hardcopy files to/from the closed file room in accordance with policy and procedure.
• Uses court or local jurisdiction internet sites to search client case information.
• Processes routine clerical tasks such as, copying, printing, sorting, and distributing forms and documents.
• Makes periodic courthouse runs to deliver and retrieve appellate records, filings, mail, and other official correspondence.
• Attends meetings and trainings as required.
• Performs other administrative duties as assigned.

Minimal educational/professional qualifications include:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent required. No prior experience required.
• Knowledge of English language, grammar, and punctuation.
• Knowledge of basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division);
• Knowledge of standard software applications such as, Microsoft Office Word, Excel, internet browsers and e-mail.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Client/customer service experience in a fast-paced environment;
• Basic clerical and administrative skills such as, data entry, uploading electronic files, managing files/records, and answering phones;
• Training or experience that provided a knowledge of court systems and legal terminology;
• Experience working in an environment serving indigent populations;
• Spanish-speaking skills.