Initial Posting Date:
05/01/2026Application Deadline:
05/10/2026Agency:
Oregon Public Defense CommissionSalary Range:
$4,186 - $6,187Position Type:
EmployeePosition Title:
Legal SecretaryJob Description:
The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) Trial Division is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Legal Secretary for our Portland office to provide comprehensive administrative and case support to attorneys, paralegals, and investigators representing clients in criminal defense matters. In this role, you will help manage case files and attorney calendars, coordinate court filings and deadlines, and support a fast-paced legal team dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of individuals facing criminal charges. If you are organized, reliable, and interested in contributing to a mission-driven public defense office, we encourage you to apply.
Position: Legal Secretary
This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified applicants to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.
Locations: Portland, Oregon (This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with a mix of in-office and remote work.)
Salary Range: $4,186- $6,187
What you will do
This position will provide comprehensive administrative and case support to attorneys, paralegals, and investigators in the preparation and management of legal matters. Responsibilities include drafting and processing legal documents; maintaining calendars and tracking court deadlines; managing records and case files; conducting legal research; overseeing docketing, case management, and timekeeping functions; and coordinating communications with clients, courts, and public safety agencies to support effective legal representation.
Minimum Qualifications
Two (2) years of clerical/secretarial experience which includes at least one (1) year as a legal assistant.
OR
Secretary for an attorney or judge or performance of legal support duties (such as preparing legal documents, maintaining legal records, or researching legal information).
Experience must include proficiency in Word Processing software.
The Top Nine (9) Desired Attributes for this Role
1. Excellent Organizational & Case Management Abilities: Demonstrated ability to manage complex case files, discovery materials, litigation databases, calendars, court dates, filings, travel, and deadlines with accuracy and consistency. 2. Attention to Detail: Careful proofreading, citation review, document accuracy checks, and ensuring compliance with court rules and e-filing procedures.
3. Strong Knowledge of Legal Procedures: Understanding court jurisdiction, pleading formats, OECI/OJIN e-filing rules, and applicable procedural requirements.
4. Advanced Written Communication Skills: Drafting legal documents, correspondence, certificates of service, subpoenas, and other materials clearly and accurately.
5. Effective Verbal Communication & Client Service: Communicates professionally with clients, attorneys, court staff, and others while explaining processes and coordinating logistics; communicates respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
6. Time Management & Deadline Management: Effectively prioritizes multiple assignments and manages competing deadlines to ensure timely filings and case support.
7. Technical Proficiency: Uses case management systems, calendaring and docketing systems, e-filing platforms, and document preparation software effectively.
8. Problem Solving & Analytical Ability: Reviews documents and case materials to identify missing information, procedural issues, or potential filing problems and alerts attorneys or staff.
9. Confidentiality & Professional Judgement: Maintains discretion with sensitive legal information and exercises sound judgment when handling client and court communications.
What’s in it for you
You will be a part of an innovative and strategic group of professionals while ensuring safety. Additional benefits include:
OPDC supports and encourages work/life balance and overall wellness and offers a generous benefits package including, employer-paid health insurance, vacation, and sick leave, eleven paid holidays, three paid personal days, flexible spending accounts, and an employer contribution retirement plan (PERS).
The posted salary range is the total possible range for the classification. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%.
Advancement and learning opportunities to help you grow your career.
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Application Instructions:
REQUIRED: Attach your most up-to-date resume. Please ensure your Workday profile aligns with your submission.
REQUIRED: Attach a cover letter that details how you meet the desired attributes for this position. You cover letter should be no more than 2 pages. (A cover letter that does not meet the required criteria will be graded as ineligible.)
**Applications that do not include the listed required documents will be declined. Should this happen, you may re-submit your application with the required documentation by the application deadline. **
Duties
Administrative Duties
Maintain daily communication with clients, opposing parties, court officials, and witnesses to coordinate case development and closure activities. Manage detailed calendars for court dates, filing deadlines, meetings, travel, and related obligations while maintaining case management systems, time sheets, and statistical reports. Prepare correspondence, arrange travel, screen and route calls, and provide procedural information to ensure efficient case support and organization.
Legal Documents and Correspondence
Draft, proofread, and finalize legal documents and correspondence, ensuring proper jurisdiction, pleading format, accurate citations, and overall completeness before submitting them for attorney review and revision. Prepare supporting materials such as certificates of service, summons, subpoenas, legal memoranda, exhibits, and simple orders for judicial signature. Track and process legal documents throughout all stages of a case while complying with court rules and OECI/OJIN e-filing procedures to support accurate and timely filings.
Trial Hearing Preparation and Monitoring
Plan and initiate court filings and notices while maintaining detailed calendaring and docket systems to track trials, hearings, and deadlines. Review documents to verify legal procedures, due process requirements, and accuracy, advising legal professionals of issues requiring attention and obtaining any missing information. Coordinate witness and expert scheduling, prepare hearing and mediation materials, manage case files from opening to closure, and arrange teleconferences and follow-up actions as needed.
Who we are.
The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) is an agency governed by a 13-member commission appointed by the Governor, which serves as the governing body for Oregon’s public defense system. The Commission provides policy direction and oversight for the administration of the system. Through this work, OPDC safeguards the constitutional right to counsel and upholds a critical element of Oregon’s justice and public safety.
The mission of OPDC is to continually enhance the statewide public defense system to deliver highly skilled, independent, timely, and client-focused representation to eligible persons.
The Trial Division is composed of public defenders who provide court-appointed legal representation and advocacy at the trial level to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in the circuit courts in the State of Oregon. Trial Division staff represent clients from arraignment through sentencing, with occasional preindictment representations. Case types include murder prosecutions, serious sexual offenses, lesser and major felonies, misdemeanors, contempt filings, occasionally initial commitment proceedings, and hearings related to those matters (e.g., DMV hearings, Protective Order hearings, etc.).
The Northwest Regional Trial Division, a subdivision of the Trial Division based in Portland and Oregon City, accepts appointments in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties, and occasionally in other counties in Oregon.
Recruitment Timeline
*These dates are approximate and may change. *
Recruitment Closes: Sunday, May 11, 2026 @ 11:59P
Recruiter Screening for Minimum Qualifications: On-going
Hiring Manager Screening for Desired Attributes: On-going
First-Round Interviews: Week of May 12, 2026
Additional Details
The information in your application will be used to complete a pay equity assessment to determine salary placement upon hire. Please see the link here to our Pay Equity Project.
The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
Eligible veterans, disabled veterans, and current/former servicemembers of the Oregon National Guard who meet the qualifications are eligible for Candidate Preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.
OPDC does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States. If your employment authorization and documentation is contingent on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet Agency employment eligibility standards.
The Oregon Public Defense Commission is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, Fair Chance employer and encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ community members, justice impacted and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.