Paralegal (Juvenile Appellate Section)

Paralegal (Juvenile Appellate Section) Oregon Public Defense Commission Salem, OR Job Details Full-time $4,848 - $7,163 a month 20 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Flexible spending account Loan forgiveness Retirement plan Qualifications Professional ethics Legal appeal drafting Legal administrative experience

Full Job Description Initial Posting Date:

05/22/2026

Application Deadline:

05/28/2026

Agency:

Oregon Public Defense Commission Salary Range:

$4,848 - $7,163

Position Type:

Employee Position Title:

Paralegal (Juvenile Appellate Section)

Job Description:

The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) is excited to announce an opportunity as a Paralegal in our Juvenile Appellate Section (JAS). We encourage dedicated and detail-oriented candidates who are passionate about indigent defense and committed to supporting an inclusive workplace to apply. This is a great opportunity to expand your skills and contribute meaningfully to OPDC's appellate advocacy.

Position :

Paralegal (Juvenile Appellate Section )

Intake and Reversions :

A paralegal in the Juvenile Appellate Section supports attorneys who provide appellate representation to parents in juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases and to youth in juvenile delinquency cases. The JAS paralegal processes all incoming case referrals, conducts initial conflict checks, and assesses the appealability and completeness of referred cases. The position requires regular communication with clients, attorneys, and staff in person, by telephone, by email, and by conventional mail. The paralegal handles untimely referrals and reverts conflict and overflow cases to panel attorneys. The paralegal is also responsible for generating and disseminating both canned and ad hoc reports.

Client Assistance :

The JAS paralegal responds to inquiries from clients, opposing counsel, courts, and trial counsel, while conducting conflict checks and coordinating requests for assistance. The paralegal is also responsible for working with various entities to obtain necessary documents and identify events that may render an appeal moot.

Duties :

Attorney Support Serve as legal support to assigned attorneys. Preserve each attorney's case files including file management and case tracking. Promptly process and deliver incoming documents and file as needed in client files, Maintain client files in a well-organized and clutter-free manner. Monitor and check file due dates. Keep attorneys' calendars and coordinate meeting due dates. Review database reports and calendar entries. Assess and review trial court records. Access trial court documents and appellate court documents from circuit court and appellate court electronic case management systems. Track and monitor attorney's caseload. Monitor calendar due dates and keep attorneys apprised. Produce files and documents at attorney or management direction. Colorable Claim Case Intake and Assessment Process all incoming case referrals for colorable claim cases from the electronic referral system. Conduct initial conflict checks using AD's case management systems. Engage with incoming clients, AD attorneys, and trial attorneys by email and phone to request and provide information on the appeal process and colorable claim requirements to initiate appeals. Assess and evaluate for attorney review the colorable claims identified in the case referral materials or apparent from the appealable order or judgment for purposes of filing a notice of appeal. Case Preparation Assist in preparation of cases for appeal by reviewing, organizing, and indexing documents. Check in transcripts, review for conformity with the notice of appeal and rules, review for references to exhibits or other documents considered by the trial court (including electronically searching each transcript for key terms), ensure that all exhibits to the trial court matter are received by the Court of Appeals and OPDC. Writing and Preparing Letters and Legal Documents Review, analyze, and draft letters and motions. Assist with briefing and document preparation by cite-checking and proofreading. Office Support Provide support and coverage of duties for other legal support by. managing case transfers. serving as paralegal to attorneys on a temporary basis while the attorney's assigned paralegal is on leave. Ongoing Engage in effective team participation with a willingness to assist and support coworkers, supervisors, and other work-related associations. Develop good working relationships with clients, coworkers, and supervisors by actively participating in office-wide activities and programs and by identifying and resolving problems in a constructive, collaborative manner. Contribute to a positive, respectful, and productive work environment in a manner that fosters and promotes the importance and value of a diverse, discrimination- and harassment-free workplace. Respect diversity of opinions, ideas, and cultural differences. Demonstrate independent and critical thinking. Other duties as assigned. This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified applicants to fill the current vacanc y and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.

Location :

Salem, Oregon (In office preference with potential for hybrid work.)

Compensation Range :

$ 4,848 - $ 7, 163 What's in it for you: Advancement in your profession and a competitive salary and benefits package. OPDC supports 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 top candidate will be screened through a Pay Equity process that evaluates various factors. Please see the Pay Equity website for more information. As a state employee, you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you achieve financial freedom while making a difference.

Minimum Qualifications:

Two years associate degree in paralegal or legal assistant studies. OR Eighteen months of Paralegal experience. OR Any combination of training and experience that demonstrates experience in legal work, independent judgment, legal terminology principles, concepts, systems, and processes. Experience must include appellate and trial methods and procedures, legal ethics, and skill in preparing legal documents and explaining legal issues. The Top ( 8 ) Desired Attributes for th ese Role s 1.

Strong Organizational Skills :

Essential for managing case files, tracking deadlines, handling intake, and maintaining accurate records across multiple systems. 2 .

Effective Communication :

Ability to engage with attorneys, clients, courts, and other stakeholders clearly and professionally via phone, email, and in writing 3. Attention to

Detail:

Critical for reviewing legal documents and transcripts, verifying records, and ensuring compliance with court rules. 4.

Legal Knowledge & Analytical Thinking :

Understanding of appellate procedures, ability to assess claims and sentencing issues, and perform preliminary legal assessments. 5.

Technical Proficiency :

Competence in using electronic case management systems, accessing court records, and producing legal documents efficiently. 6.

Teamwork & Collaboration :

Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with coworkers, supervisors, and external partners in a legal environment. 7 .

Adaptability and Initiative :

Willingness and ability to take on varied responsibilities ( e.g. , officer of the day, legal assistant coverage), manage shifting priorities, and solve problems independently. 8 . Cultural Competence & Respect for

Differences :

Ability to understand, appreciate, and interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Application Guidance Current State of Oregon Employees:

Apply via your employee Workday account.

External applicants:

View this application instructional video. A PDF is also available by clicking here. Application Requirements

REQUIRED RESUME

Attach your most up-to-date Resume . Please ensure your Workday profile aligns with your submission.

REQUIRED COVER LETTER

As part of the application process, we are requesting that you submit a cover letter that clearly demonstrates how you meet the desired attributes for these positions. •

APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE RECRUITMENT

•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. The legal services provided by OPDC represent an essential component of Oregon's public safety system. OPDC's mission is to ensure constitutionally competent and effective legal representation for persons eligible for a public defender. Its office includes the Executive, Appellate, Trial, Trial Development & Resources, and Administrative Services Divisions. OPDC negotiates contracts with trial level public defense providers and administers and distributes funds for representation and related services for cases during the biennium for criminal, juvenile, and civil commitment cases. The Agency provides compliance and oversight to the trial community providers through quality assurance practices, training, and education. Financial Services processes all expenses related to representation in public defense cases. The Appellate Division provides direct legal representation in the state appellate courts in criminal cases, juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases, and parole cases. Other services in the Agency include, Data Collection and Analysis, General Counsel, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Internal Audit, and Policy Development. Recruitment Timeline •These dates are approximate and may change. •

Recruitment Closes:

Thursday, May 28, 2026 @ 11:59 PST Recruiter Screening for

Minimum Qualifications:

On-going Hiring Manager Screening for

Desired Attributes:

On-going Interviews:

TBD Additional Details This announcement is for one, full-time, permanent Paralegal. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies. Please save a copy of this job announcement, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline. If you have questions about the announcement, or need an alternate format to apply, contact Chantelle LaGoy, , (503) 991-2274. Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting. For more information, please go to the State website: https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Veterans.aspx OPDC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is strongly committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce. Assistance will be provided in the recruitment, application, and selection process to applicants with disabilities who request such assistance. Please call (503) 991-2274 as early as possible regarding any assistance you may require.