Clinic Legal Assistant

Clinic Legal Assistant

Posting Number: R0005941
Location: Salem Campus

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ABOUT WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
Willamette University is a nationally-renowned private liberal arts university with graduate programs in business, law, data science, and fine arts. Founded in 1842, Willamette is the first university established in the western U.S. located in the heart of the PNW. Campuses are located in both Salem and Portland, Oregon close to the Oregon Coast, Cascade Mountains, and vibrant cities of the Pacific Northwest.

The university motto, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born,” captures the essence of this distinguished university. It speaks to the commitment to community service, to the extraordinary collaboration between faculty and students, and to the tradition of service and civic engagement that is typical of Willamette alumni.

Willamette University provides a highly-valued, well-rounded, and comprehensive benefits package to employees: Benefits Summary

If you need assistance applying for a job or have any questions on recruitment at Willamette, please contact our HR Department, hr@willamette.edu or call us at 503-370-6210.

Instructions for Applicants:
Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process. To be considered for employment at Willamette University, please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments -- listed at the bottom of the page -- must be submitted for each individual job post that you are interested in applying. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.

Position Summary:
The Clinic Legal Assistant position is a customer service position providing administrative support to the clinic students and faculty. This position performs many complex duties that require knowledge of basic court processes and procedures, and the ability to proofread and edit legal documents. This position must also communicate with clients, students, attorneys, and court personnel in writing, in person, and by telephone.

Because the Clinical Law Program is both a functioning law firm and a teaching clinic, a successful Legal Assistant will work cooperatively with clinic faculty and staff toward the dual goals of providing outstanding client representation and outstanding legal training for students. This position will work with all College of Law clinics, though focused primarily on the work of the Criminal Defense Clinic. The Criminal Defense Clinic and this position are funded by, and dependent on, appropriations from the Oregon Legislature.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinic Client and Faculty Case Support

• In coordination with clinic faculty and students, types, proofreads and edits client correspondence, pleadings, and forms.
  
• Frequent written and oral communication with clients and potential clients, including: answer phones, greet the public, and schedule appointments for clients.
  
• In coordination with clinic faculty and students, physically delivers, mails, and/or electronically files documents with the court.
  
• Opens new client files (electronic and/or hard files).
  
• Works with clinic faculty to establish file tickler protocol for each client file.
  
• Closes client files and works with clinic faculty and students to send and maintain file closure documentation.
  
• Safeguards the confidentiality of client and student information.
  
• Hand delivers documents as needed.
  
  

Office Administration

• Answers phones, checks and responds to voicemail, checks and responds to clinic email inquiries.
  
• Data entry and maintenance including legal software, downloading and uploading discovery, and grant-report tracking.
  
• In coordination with clinic faculty and students, schedules client appointments and performs initial client intake and conflict checks.
  
• Exercises discretion in communicating information to non-clinical faculty, students and staff, and in handling departmental records and files, personnel actions, performance evaluations, grade reports, merit, promotion and tenure decisions, and similar confidential materials.
  
• Other duties as assigned, including: process mail, translate documents, interpret for clients at interviews, maintaining files, and copying documents.
  
• Acts as back-up when the Clinical Law Program Office Manager is out of the office including: Greet visitors and clients, retrieve mail from post office box and law school box, perform conflicts checks, order supplies etc.
  

​Student Outreach, Registration, and Orientation

• Assist in producing outreach and educational materials about the program.
  
• In coordination with clinic faculty and staff, conducts a clinic orientation at the beginning of each semester; orientation needs may vary from clinic to clinic, but the Legal Assistant should be prepared to assist with a tour of the clinic workspace, students' technical and physical access needs, conduct initial conflicts checks, and demonstrate how to use office systems and technology.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• One year of legal assistant experience and/ or any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
  
• Minimum of two years' word processing experience and proficiency with email.
  
• The ability to learn and use computer calendaring, time billing, and various computer utility programs.
  
• Ability to communicate in written and spoken English.
  
• Interpersonal communication skills.
  
• Ability to work independently yet seek supervision appropriately.
  
• Attention to detail and the ability to appropriately prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain collegial and professional relations with others (staff, faculty, students, clients, and court personnel).
  
• Ability to access clients and witnesses in correctional facilities.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency (spoken and written) in Spanish.
  
• High school education or equivalent and completion of two years of college.
  
• Experience with Google Suite, Clio, Odyssey File and Serve, DocuSign, PACER, and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
  
• Ability to accurately type 60 words per minute.
  

Typical Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm

Salary: $21.55/ hour

You will need to upload the following documents as part of your application materials in the "My Experience" section labeled Resume:

• Optional cover letter addressing the required/desired qualifications and presenting any other applicant characteristics which deserve emphasis
  
• Current Resume
  
  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as received until the position is filled.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Believing that diversity contributes to academic excellence and to rich and rewarding communities, WU is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body. We seek candidates, particularly those from historically under-represented groups, whose work furthers diversity and who bring to campus varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT:
All University positions require that candidates submit to a criminal conviction record check prior to hire. Conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being hired. Nature of conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Apply online at https://willamette.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/willametteuniversityjobs/job/Salem-Campus/Clinic-Legal-Assistant_R0005941

Believing that diversity contributes to academic excellence and to rich and rewarding communities, WU is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body. We seek candidates, particularly those from historically under-represented groups, whose work furthers diversity and who bring to campus varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.





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