Receptionist

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Join the Oregon Public Defense Commissions Trial Division in Portland as a Receptionist and serve as the first point of contact for clients families courts and community partners! In this fast-paced public defense office you will play a key role in ensuring clients are welcomed information is handled accurately and communications are routed effectively so attorneys can focus on representation. If you are organized compassionate detail-oriented and able to exercise sound judgment in a high-volume environment we encourage you to apply and support our mission of equitable access to justice.

Position: Receptionist (Office Specialist 2)

• 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.

Location: Portland Oregon

Salary Range:$3810 - $5612

Whats in it for you

You will be a part of an innovative and strategic group of professionals and enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package!

• 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%. The top candidate will be screened through a Pay Equity process that evaluates various factors. Please see the Pay Equity website for more information.

• Advancement and learning opportunities that will help you grow your career.

• Get There! Oregons easy-to-use carpool matching tool and trip planner.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two (2) years of general clerical experience one (1) year of which included typing word processing or other experience generating documents OR

• Graduation from a private school of business with a Certificate in Office Occupations or Office Technology and one (1) year of general clerical experience.

College courses in Office Occupations or Office Technology will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

What you will do

Act as the first point of contact for clients seeking public defense services and play a key role in ensuring they are connected to the right resources. You will manage intake coordinate communications support scheduling and case workflows and help maintain the systems that allow attorneys to provide effective client-centered representation.

Application Guidance & Requirements:

• 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 PROVIDE THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE RECRUITMENT**

Duties

Front Desk Client Contact & Intake

Serve as the first point of contact for clients visitors and callers by providing a professional calm and respectful experience. Welcome visitors and direct them to appropriate staff or resources. Answer and route incoming calls gather accurate intake information and follow established call intake procedures. Confirm and update client contact information in electronic case management system at each interaction to ensure reliable case records.

Scheduling & Case Support

Support office operations through accurate calendaring and coordination. Use electronic case management system to create events set reminders and send messages. Monitor and update attorney calendars as directed to ensure deadlines and court obligations are tracked. Coordinate conference room scheduling and shared space usage. Assist with initial file setup by gathering court documents at intake. Provide surge support to legal secretaries and paralegals with filing drafting and administrative tasks during high-volume periods.

Office & Facilities Operations

Process incoming mail deliveries and court filings by stamping logging and routing materials to appropriate staff. Prepare and maintain internal distribution logs (including shuttle reports). Coordinate facilities-related needs with building management or vendors. Maintain office supply inventory to support daily operations.

The Top Six (6) Desired Attributes for this Role

1. Professional & Client-Centered Communication Skills: Demonstrates clear calm and respectful communication with clients callers and visitorsmany of whom are in crisis or under stress. Able to de-escalate situations gather needed information and ensure clients feel heard while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

2. Sound Judgment & Real-Time Triage: Exercises strong judgment in prioritizing incoming calls visitors and information. Able to quickly assess urgency route matters appropriately and recognize when an issue requires immediate escalation versus routine handling.

3. Organizational Reliability & Follow-Through: Manages multiple responsibilitiesphones intake scheduling support mail and facilitieswithout dropping details. Maintains accurate calendars tracks tasks to completion and ensures nothing falls through the cracks in a fast-paced environment.

4. Accuracy & Data Integrity in Case Systems: Maintains precise and up-to-date client and case information in systems such as Clio. Consistently verifies contact information and ensures intake data is complete and reliable to support effective legal representation.

5. Confidentiality & Professional Judgment: Handles sensitive legal and personal information with a high degree of confidentiality. Understands the ethical obligations of a public defense office and applies discretion in all communications document handling and client interactions.

6. Team Support & Mission Alignment: Contributes to a collaborative office environment by supporting attorneys and staff during high-volume periods and adapting to changing needs. Understands and is motivated by the mission of public defense including equitable access to services for all clients.

Preferred: Spanish Language Skills > Ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking clients and assist with basic interpretation to improve client access and service delivery.

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 Oregons 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 Oregons justice and public safety systems.

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 10 2026 @ 11:59P

• Recruiter Screening for Minimum Qualifications: On-going

• Hiring Manager Screening for Desired Attributes: On-going

• First-Round Interviews: Week of May 11 2026

Veterans Preference

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: is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is strongly committed to enhancing the diversity of its will be provided in the recruitment application and selection process to applicants with disabilities who request such assistance. Please call as early as possible regarding any assistance you may require.