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Legal Secretary
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Office of the State Appellate Defender
Remote
$54,650 Salary, Full-Time
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Job Description
Legal Secretary Office of the State Appellate Defender Chicago, IL Job Details Full-time From $49,450 a year 8 hours ago Benefits Health savings account Health insurance Dental insurance Flexible spending account Paid time off Parental leave Employee assistance program Vision insurance Flexible schedule Life insurance Retirement plan Paid sick time Qualifications Teamwork Administrative experience High school diploma or GED Legal administrative experience Law office Clerical experience Associate's degree Full Job Description The Office of the State Appellate Defender has an opening for a Legal Secretary with the Chicago office (1st District) with a start date of July 16, 2026. The Office of the State Appellate Defender is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, while providing a congenial atmosphere, competitive compensation package and an excellent benefit plan. Details of benefits can be found at https://cms.illinois.gov/benefits/stateemployee.html The Office of the State Appellate Defender is a state agency created by the State Appellate Defender Act (725 ILCS 105/1 et seq.). The principal function of the Office of the State Appellate Defender is to represent indigent persons on appeal in criminal cases when appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court, the Appellate Court or the Circuit Court. To provide for this legal representation, the State Appellate Defender has district offices in each of the five appellate court districts of Illinois (Chicago, Elgin, Ottawa, Springfield and Mt. Vernon). The Office of the State Appellate Defender (OSAD) is nationally recognized for excellence in providing indigent criminal services. The American Bar Association and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association honored OSAD as an outstanding Public Defender office in the nation.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION/JOB SUMMARY
Under the general leadership of the Office Administrator, the Legal Secretary provides essential administrative support to attorneys and helps ensure the office's efficient operation. The Legal Secretary performs various administrative and legal tasks, as well as reception and clerical duties, to support legal professionals and is also responsible for day-to-day tasks as directed by the Office Administrator.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work in alignment with OSAD's values to support the Office Administrator in fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Draft, format, and proofread legal documents, including motions, briefs, memos, Points & Authorities, indexing, and correspondence.
- Ensure proper documentation of case files, including electronic and physical records, and import files into a document storage system and electronic brief bank.
- Coordinate and arrange client communications for attorneys as needed.
- Handle phone calls, emails, and correspondence, promptly responding and relaying messages.
- Prepare and file letters of intent, appeals, and other legal documents with courts and relevant agencies, ensuring compliance with court rules and deadlines.
- Monitor and manage case deadlines, including generating status reports.
- Greet and assist clients, visitors, and others professionally.
- Perform additional clerical tasks, such as processing incoming and outgoing communications, copying, filing, scanning, faxing, merging, and data entry.
- Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and integrity.
- Ensure adherence to organizational policies and procedures.
- Fulfill any other necessary tasks and duties as required.
EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
- High school diploma or equivalent; Associate's degree in legal studies, business administration, or a related field is preferred.
- Two years of experience as a legal secretary or in a similar administrative role within a legal setting.
- Demonstrates a high level of attention to detail and accuracy in completing tasks.
- Commitment to providing exceptional support to attorneys.
- Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
- Takes initiative and anticipates needs.
- Ability to work independently on multiple projects.
- Analytical, critical thinking, interpersonal, and collaborative skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Adaptable, flexible, and responsive to changing needs.