The Role
Provides executive-level legal secretarial and clerical support to trial attorneys, including filing court documents, preparing pleadings and correspondence, managing calendars, maintaining case files and clearances, screening calls, and processing mail. Supports four or five attorneys, provides overflow coverage, and may work evenings, weekends, or holidays during trials. This is an in-office role requiring strong organization, communication, computer literacy, and knowledge of legal procedures.
Summary Generated by Built In
The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is accepting applications for a full-time legal assistant position in our trial unit for our Los Angeles office. The Federal Public Defender’s office is committed to the pursuit of justice by aggressively advocating in federal court for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of individuals who are charged with federal crimes and cannot afford their own lawyer.
Job Duties: Legal assistants provide a full range of executive-level secretarial and clerical support services to attorneys on trial, appellate, and habeas cases. General areas of responsibility include filing of court documents electronically and manually; preparing and editing draft pleadings, reports, and correspondence; maintaining attorneys’ calendars; accurately maintaining up-to-date case files and facility clearances; composing correspondence; screening public and client telephone calls; and processing mail, as needed. The legal assistant will be assigned to four or five attorneys and will be required to assist with overflow coverage when needed.
Requirements: All applicants must have graduated from an accredited school with a bachelor’s degree or at least one-year specialized experience performing progressively responsible duties as a legal assistant. Extensive relevant experience may substitute a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must demonstrate a high level of computer literacy, including expertise with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat programs. Experience with legal practice-related programs such as evidence review platforms, document management systems, and document indexing tools is also highly preferred. The ideal candidate will also have comprehensive knowledge of legal secretarial principles, practices, methods, and techniques; an understanding of state, district and circuit court rules, protocols, policies, and precedents; and knowledge of legal terminology and Blue Book citation format. The ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish is preferred, but not required. Legal assistants must be available to work during regular business hours, and when necessary, during evenings, weekends, and occasionally holidays if in the middle of a trial. This is an in-office position. Telework is not available.
A background investigation is required as a condition of employment. In line with current appropriations law, applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship as described here: https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship- requirements-employment-judiciary.
Selection Criteria: Successful applicants demonstrate an interest in social justice, civil rights, or indigent defense; must have excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; have strong organizational, analytical, and technical skills; an ability to organize work and set priorities to meet critical deadlines; capable of learning new technological tools, when needed; be able to work independently and take initiative; and work well in teams.
Salary/Benefits: This is a full-time, at-will position. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to direct deposit. Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and a Thrift Savings Plan. For more information on benefits, see http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.
How to Apply: Apply by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, and three references. We will accept applications until October 5, 2026, or until filled. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis and the open position may be filled before that date. Priority will be given to early applicants. The Federal Public Defender’s Office may fill current and future positions from this vacancy announcement. Please, no phone calls.
The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.
Job Duties: Legal assistants provide a full range of executive-level secretarial and clerical support services to attorneys on trial, appellate, and habeas cases. General areas of responsibility include filing of court documents electronically and manually; preparing and editing draft pleadings, reports, and correspondence; maintaining attorneys’ calendars; accurately maintaining up-to-date case files and facility clearances; composing correspondence; screening public and client telephone calls; and processing mail, as needed. The legal assistant will be assigned to four or five attorneys and will be required to assist with overflow coverage when needed.
Requirements: All applicants must have graduated from an accredited school with a bachelor’s degree or at least one-year specialized experience performing progressively responsible duties as a legal assistant. Extensive relevant experience may substitute a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must demonstrate a high level of computer literacy, including expertise with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat programs. Experience with legal practice-related programs such as evidence review platforms, document management systems, and document indexing tools is also highly preferred. The ideal candidate will also have comprehensive knowledge of legal secretarial principles, practices, methods, and techniques; an understanding of state, district and circuit court rules, protocols, policies, and precedents; and knowledge of legal terminology and Blue Book citation format. The ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish is preferred, but not required. Legal assistants must be available to work during regular business hours, and when necessary, during evenings, weekends, and occasionally holidays if in the middle of a trial. This is an in-office position. Telework is not available.
A background investigation is required as a condition of employment. In line with current appropriations law, applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship as described here: https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship- requirements-employment-judiciary.
Selection Criteria: Successful applicants demonstrate an interest in social justice, civil rights, or indigent defense; must have excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; have strong organizational, analytical, and technical skills; an ability to organize work and set priorities to meet critical deadlines; capable of learning new technological tools, when needed; be able to work independently and take initiative; and work well in teams.
Salary/Benefits: This is a full-time, at-will position. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to direct deposit. Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and a Thrift Savings Plan. For more information on benefits, see http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.
How to Apply: Apply by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, and three references. We will accept applications until October 5, 2026, or until filled. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis and the open position may be filled before that date. Priority will be given to early applicants. The Federal Public Defender’s Office may fill current and future positions from this vacancy announcement. Please, no phone calls.
The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, or at least one year of specialized experience performing progressively responsible legal assistant duties; extensive relevant experience may substitute for the degree.
- High level of computer literacy, including expertise with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
- Strong knowledge of legal secretarial principles, practices, methods, and techniques.
- Understanding of state, district, and circuit court rules, protocols, policies, and precedents.
- Knowledge of legal terminology and Bluebook citation format.
- Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and technical skills, including the ability to prioritize work and meet critical deadlines.
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, learn new technological tools, and work effectively on teams.
- Availability to work regular business hours and, when necessary, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays during trials.
- Ability to work in the office; telework is not available.
- Successful completion of a background investigation.
- United States citizenship or permanent resident status with intent to become a United States citizen, as permitted under applicable judiciary requirements.
- Experience with evidence review platforms, document management systems, and document indexing tools.
- Ability to speak, read, and write Spanish.
- Interest in social justice, civil rights, or indigent defense.
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