Paralegal Specialist 1

Salary: $55.02 Hourly

Location : Bethel, AK

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 47158

Department: Administration

Division: Public Defender Agency

Opening Date: 09/04/2024

Closing Date: 9/16/2024 5:00 PM Alaska

Division: Public Defender Agency

Position Open To: Alaska Residents Only

Bargaining Unit: General Government

Range: 19

Job Description This position is open to Alaskan Residents only. Please check out the to determine if you qualify. What you will be doing:The position coordinates the Agency's Holistic Defense activities for the Bethel office, working directly with clients to help them access services to improve case outcomes and directing the social service navigation work of an AmeriCorps member(s) volunteering in the office. The holistic defense approach seeks to address the non-legal barriers clients face that impact effective integration into communities. The position works closely with our holistic partners at the Alaska Legal Service Corporation.

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. Paralegals and Paralegal Specialists are an integral part of providing that representation and protecting our clients' rights. They work closely with attorneys and other Agency staff to provide high-level assistance on litigation preparation, and work closely with clients to improve case outcomes. This position is essential to the success of the division by providing advanced administrative and legal support.
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 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. Many paralegals and paralegal specialists use the skills and experience they gain to transition to investigative and administrative management positions within the Agency, the State of Alaska, or the private sector.

Your first 12 months in the Agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal and on-the-job training with your supervisor and your colleagues.
The working environment you can expect:The office is located in Bethel, Alaska. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM with an hour lunch at noon. The position works with Agency attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and law office assistants.
Who we are looking for:
To be successful in the position, the ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities and experience:

Technological Competency: Competency with standard office equipment is expected and computer literacy and fluency with Microsoft Office is essential to handling the large volume of digital documents and evidence in cases and utilizing the digital case management system. Effective Communicator: Clear and professional oral and written communication is essential to anyone working in the legal field. Ability to Maintain Confidentiality: Strict confidentiality is required due to the nature of the work performed. Independent Worker: Taking initiative, exercising sound judgment, and following directions is critical in our offices. Special Note: Valid Alaska Driver's License desired.
The Public Defender Agency's user authorization with the Department of Public Safety for allowing some employees' access to the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) requires that this position is able to pass a criminal background investigation per 13 AAC 68.215. If this sounds like your skill set, or one you would like to develop, please submit an application through Workplace Alaska. Minimum Qualifications PI01C1 - Paralegal Specialist 1

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in: Law: Knowledge of State and federal laws, including legal and court procedures, regulations, guidelines, precedents, admissibility of evidence, case preparation, and/or settlements for applicable areas of law practiced or supported. Compliance: Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with State and federal laws, regulations, and guidance. Leadership: Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations. Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process. Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise. Equivalent to those typically gained by:

Post-secondary and/or vocational education in a legal, paralegal, criminal justice, or similar legal support area and/or progressively responsible experience providing a variety of legal support in either the legal, law enforcement, legislative, or social service field; or practice in social service field with experience in either the legal, law enforcement or legislative field.

Special Note:

Positions may 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 Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) and National Crime 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.

"Competencies" means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.

"Paraprofessional" work is typically associated with and supportive of a professional field. It involves extensive practical knowledge gained through experience and/or specific formal or on-the-job training. Work in these occupations may involve substantial elements of the work of the professional or administrative field, but requires less than full knowledge of the field involved.

"Professional experience" means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment.

"Progressively responsible" means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.

"Technical" means performing tasks, methods, procedures, and computations that are covered by established precedents or guidelines and often require a high degree of skill, care, and precision.

"Training" and "education" in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.
"Typically gained by" means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.
Additional Required Information At time of interview, please provide the following: College transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications). Please read the below information carefully. This applies to your application submission. SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS
For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. Be specific in your answers and tell us how you acquired the relevant experience. Please use complete sentences and proof-read your submissions when answering the supplemental questions. Your responses will be considered a writing sample and will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process.

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.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY
This recruitment is open to Alaska Residents only. Applicants must meet in order to be considered for employment at this time.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Applications will be reviewed to determine if minimum qualifications are met. Therefore, all work experiences the applicant is using to meet minimum qualifications for this position must be documented in the application package. Please include the employer's name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether the employment was full or part-time. Applicants who submit packages that do not provide sufficient information to demonstrate minimum qualifications are met may not advance in the selection process.

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.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

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 at:

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:

For applicant password assistance, please visit: Contact Information For specific information in reference to the position, please contact the hiring manager: Rhonda Thayer, Administrative Officer 1Phone: (907) 334-4400

Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See for additional information. AVTEC Confidential Correctional Officers Marine Engineers Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers Supervisory Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining) The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information. General Government Labor, Trades and Crafts Public Safety Employees Association Masters, Mates & Pilots Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit) Optional Insurance Benefits Group-based insurance premiums for Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents) Long-term and short-term disability Accidental Death and Dismemberment Long-term care (self and eligible family members) Supplemental Survivor Benefits Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses Retirement Benefits Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees) Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees) Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options
See for additional information

Paid Leave & Other Benefits Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served Twelve (12) paid holidays a year

01

Describe how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

02

In one paragraph or less, why do you think you would be a good fit working in a law firm tasked with defending the accused?

03

The work we do often exposes staff to case materials that include graphic or explicit content and graphic images like autopsy photos or detailed descriptions of violence. Is this something you are going to be comfortable with? Yes No

04

Are you an Alaska resident? If so, please indicate below how you meet residency requirements: Currently domiciled in the State of Alaska Presently serving in the military with the intent of being domiciled* in the State of Alaska upon completion of military service Graduated from an accredited high school or post-secondary institution in the State of Alaska or earned a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) while domiciled* in Alaska Presently enrolled in a State of Alaska post-secondary institution and physically present in Alaska I do not meet the residency requirement

Required Question