The Community Defender Division (CDD) works to help our clients in the District—both adults and children—face their legal difficulties that stem from prior arrests, convictions, and incarceration. This is achieved through the services provided within our two specialized programs. The Prisoner Reentry Legal Services program for adult clients, and the Juvenile Services Program (JSP) for juvenile clients.

Front Desk, Reception, and Intake

• Ensures the CDD office front desk is operational and ready to receive visitors during established public office hours; promptly identifies and reports coverage, safety, facilities, or operational issues that could affect public access.
• Answers the main office telephone line and greets walk-in visitors; serves as the initial point of contact for prospective clients, current clients, family members, community members, attorneys, service providers, and other callers or visitors.
• Provides general information concerning CDD services, office procedures, hours, location, and established intake requirements; determines the appropriate staff member or program to receive the inquiry and routes calls and visitors in accordance with division protocols.
• Screens inquiries to distinguish requests that can be addressed through established administrative information from matters requiring review by an attorney, social worker, investigator, supervisor, or other professional staff. The incumbent does not provide legal advice or make legal eligibility determinations reserved to professional staff.
• Conducts basic intake processing for prospective clients by obtaining required identifying and case-related information, entering or recording intake information, checking for completeness, and identifying missing information requiring follow-up. 
• Conducts initial financial-eligibility screening using established criteria and procedures; reviews information for completeness and apparent inconsistencies and refers unusual, unclear, or disputed circumstances for appropriate staff determination.
• Maintains the visitor log and other front-desk records and protects confidential, personally identifiable, attorney-client, and case-related information from unauthorized disclosure.
• Maintains the lobby and waiting area in an orderly condition and coordinates promptly with appropriate staff when visitor volume, client needs, safety concerns, or other conditions require assistance. 

Mail, Records, and Correspondence Support

• Performs initial receipt, sorting, date-stamping, logging, routing, and distribution of incoming mail and packages in accordance with CDD mail protocols.
• Performs initial handling of correspondence received from incarcerated persons, identifies the appropriate program or staff recipient, and ensures sensitive or time-sensitive correspondence is routed promptly.
• Maintains routine administrative files, logs, trackers, and electronic records associated with front-desk operations, intake processing, visitor activity, mail, supplies, and other assigned functions.
• Locates, retrieves, and compiles administrative information from established files, databases, email records, and tracking systems for staff use.

Timekeeping and Administrative Systems

• Serves as the division timekeeper using QuickTime or a successor time-and-attendance system; reviews timekeeping submissions for completeness, identifies apparent discrepancies or missing entries, follows up with employees or supervisors as appropriate, and submits or routes records within established deadlines.
• Provides routine guidance to CDD employees regarding timekeeping submission procedures and refers questions involving pay, leave entitlement, policy interpretation, or unusual corrections to the Office of Human Resources.
• Uses Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and other automated office applications to maintain calendars, trackers, contact information, schedules, simple reports, correspondence, and administrative records.
• Maintains appropriate administrative suspense dates and follows up on recurring officesupport
  requirements to avoid missed deadlines.

Scheduling, Supplies, Facilities, and Onboarding

• Coordinates reservations for the CDD conference room and assists staff with scheduling meeting spaces, resolving routine conflicts based on established priorities and availability.
• Monitors office-supply levels and initiates requests for replenishment or purchase through appropriate PDS administrative channels; maintains basic records of requests and follows up on delayed items.
• Communicates building, janitorial, equipment, telephone, and information-technology service needs to PDS Administration, IT, building management, or other responsible service providers; tracks requests through completion and keeps affected staff informed.
• Coordinates routine onboarding logistics for incoming employees, law clerks, interns, and other assigned personnel, including workspace readiness, office/cubicle setup, basic supplies, access coordination, and communication with Administration and IT.
• Assists with office moves, workstation changes, and other routine logistics by coordinating timing, access, supplies, and service requests with responsible offices.

Community Events and General Administrative Support

• Provides logistical and administrative support for CDD community events, trainings, meetings, and outreach activities, including room setup, materials, sign-in processes, supply coordination, and other assigned support.
• Provides courteous administrative assistance to CDD staff and, when necessary, coordinates with other PDS offices to resolve routine operational matters.
• Identifies recurring front-desk or administrative processing issues and recommends practical improvements to forms, checklists, logs, routing procedures, or office practices.
• Performs other related clerical and administrative-support duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Knowledge of office administrative practices and procedures sufficient to independently perform reception, intake-processing, timekeeping, mail, scheduling, records, supply,facilities-coordination, onboarding, and related office-support work.
• Knowledge of CDD programs, organizational relationships, referral protocols, and service delivery processes sufficient to direct inquiries to the appropriate program or staff memberand provide accurate procedural information.
• Ability to apply established financial-eligibility screening and intake procedures, identify missing or inconsistent information, and recognize matters requiring referral to professional or supervisory staff.
• Skill in dealing tactfully and respectfully with clients and members of the public, including individuals experiencing stress, crisis, incarceration, or significant involvement with thecriminal or juvenile legal systems.
• Understanding of confidentiality, privacy, and information-handling requirements applicable to sensitive client, legal, personnel, and administrative information.
• Skill in using automated administrative systems and Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams, to enter, retrieve, organize, track, and communicate information.
• Ability to organize multiple assignments, establish priorities, meet recurring deadlines,maintain accurate records, and follow through on service requests.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in person, by telephone, and in writing

0303

AD Grade 06
Salary Range $50,326 - $65,425

• Cover letter addressing your skills and qualifications and why you want to work in CDD
• A résumé with an email address, with current and previous employers, dates of employment, position status as full- or part-time, and position title and scope of duties
• A list of three professional references with a brief description on how each reference is able to attest to your skills/experience.  Please include the name, email and telephone number, and the relationship (i.e. Direct Supervisor, Indirect Supervisor, Mentor etc.)