The Buffalo County Public Defender’s Office is seeking a full-time legal assistant to serve attorneys
practicing in criminal law and provide administrative capacities

Candidates must be available to work full time 8-5 M-F in a professional office environment. Starting pay
is $18.50 to $21.50 per hour, depending on experience. The County offers a comprehensive benefit
package including individual health insurance, generous retirement programs, and access to a wide
variety of other benefits such as family health, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits. The County
offers paid vacation and sick leave and numerous paid holidays.

This position will close on or before December 31, 2023. Applications will be reviewed promptly and
candidates selected for an interview will be notified via their provided email address.

Applicants must fully complete the Buffalo County Application for Employment, provide a cover letter,
and contact information for professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All
finalists will be subject to a thorough background check. Applications and required material should be
mailed to Attn: Advertisement at PO Box 605 Kearney, NE 68848 or emailed in PDF form to
jwirth@buffalocounty.ne.gov.

An ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Desire to work as a legal assistant. An ideal candidate will be looking for a career, not just a job.
• Strong, professional organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills including formal correspondence, informal writing, and telephone skills.
• Attention to detail and advanced editing/proofreading skills.
• An ability to work under narrow parameters as well as an ability to be a self-starter when needed.
• Experience managing deadlines, multitasking, and balancing the completion of routine daily tasks with long-term projects.
• A willingness to maintain confidentiality, to assist coworkers when needed, and to cope with occasionally high-stress situations.
• The ability to adapt rapidly to changes in law, office procedure, or attorney preference.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Word, moderate skills in Microsoft Excel, experience with managing digital records/files, and the ability to quickly and efficiently learn new software.
• A willingness to ask questions, accept feedback, and a desire to learn.
• No, or exceptionally limited, criminal history.

Strong candidates will also have experience in some of the following areas:

• Experience in calendaring, scheduling and in coordination of meetings.
• Desire to produce quality, professional, work-product that is well edited, and which reflects well on yourself and the attorneys you will assist.
• Experience in accurate data entry and maintenance.
• Experience in assisting during meetings with tasks such as paperwork management, minutes, or time management. 

All applicants should address in their cover letters what makes them the ideal candidate for the position and what each applicant hopes to find in an ideal employer. 

Though prior experience as a legal assistant is not required, candidates with legal assistant experience should provide details about their experience including practice areas, case volumes, specialized skills and experience.

Buffalo County Job Application