Job Description

Requisition No: 873074

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, 20TH CIRCUIT- LEGAL ASSISTANT I - 21003544

Pay Plan: Public Defndrs JAC

Position Number: 21003544

Salary: $35,000.00 - $40,000.00

Posting Closing Date: 09/30/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Are you looking for a rewarding role within an organization where you can earn competitive compensation and have access to a comprehensive benefits package? The Law Offices of the Public Defender, 20th Judicial Circuit, may be the place for you! The agency is seeking qualified applicants for a Legal Assistant position.

The starting salary for the position is $35,000 to $40,000 annually, dependent upon experience and qualifications.

To learn more about the Law Offices of the Public Defender, 20th Judicial Circuit, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-of-the-public-defender-20th-judicial-circuit/ or www.pd20.org

To learn more about benefits offered to eligible employees, visit: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/

The agency strongly encourages applicants to attach a resume, as well as 2 - 3 professional references.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibility of the Legal Assistant I is to provide highly efficient and professional clerical duties to the agency and legal staff. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Creates correspondence and other materials on general or legal subjects; types routine acknowledgments in response to inquiries.
• Assist clients as necessary.
• Prepares and maintains files and records.
• Acts as office receptionist, answers telephone; greets, announces and routes visitors/clients.
• Types with speed and accuracy, proficient in word processing systems and associated peripherals.
• Reads incoming mail and independently composes reply when attorney's personal attention is not required.
• Prepares and files complex motions, orders, and subpoenas for both depositions and trials, attends court hearings and keeps docket.
• Keeps attorney's appointment calendar and maintain schedules of meetings, appointments, legal hearings, trials and sentencings.
• Establishes and maintains a comprehensive filing system.
• Handles calls regarding cases and court hearings in attorney's absence.
• Prepares general legal forms and pleadings independently.
• Completion of monthly reports, data input into case management system.
• Maintains confidential case follow-up and other essential legal records and files.
• Performs related work as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively and professionally with clients and staff.
• Use correct English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
• Exhibit sound judgment and good listening skills.
• Handle matters with integrity and confidentiality.
• Plan and prepare reports, correspondence, and charts in a variety of formats.
• Use personal computer and general office equipment.
• Be extremely organized, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Maintain an effective filing system.
• Manage multiple assignments simultaneously including long- and short-range projects.
• Be flexible in work assignments and processes based upon need.
• Travel to various locations throughout the circuit for assignments and training.
• Effectively utilize Microsoft Word and Outlook.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Graduation from high school and two years of progressively responsible secretarial experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Prior legal experience preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, technical procedures, legal documents and governmental regulations. Ability to write business correspondence.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Basic computer skills are required including keyboarding, use of PC's, printers, etc. Microsoft

Office experience required.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY

Must be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Must be able to evaluate problems, isolate key issues, research and develop alternative solutions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be mobile, speak and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and reach. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid Florida Driver’s license.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level for this position is moderate.

EQUIPMENT UTILIZED

Personal computers, printers, copiers, scanners, telephones, calculators, cell phone

Job Type: Full Time

Pay: Starting at $35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Access to the Florida Retirement System

Health/Dental/Vision/Life insurance

Generous Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Tuition waiver

Employee Assistance Program

Schedule:

Flexible; Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm

Ability to commute/relocate:

Fort Myers, FL 33901

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

This position description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees of the Office of the Public Defender are at-will employees. This document does not create employment contract, implied or otherwise, and may be revised or rescinded at any time, due to operational necessity, at the sole discretion of the Public Defender.

The Law Offices of the Public Defender, 20th Judicial Circuit, is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.