Intake worker/Administrative Assistant

Prisoners’ Legal Services, Burnaby, BC

Prisoners’ Legal Services is looking for a compassionate intake worker/administrative assistant who wants to use their skills to support the rights of people in prison.

We are a small non-profit society providing legal services to federal and provincial prisoners in the province of British Columbia.

The intake worker/administrative assistant reports to the executive director. The position involves providing reception/intake, office and clerical services to support lawyers and advocates.

Duties include:

  • Answering calls from clients, entering information into our database, determining their legal issues, directing calls to the appropriate staff member and taking messages as appropriate;
  • Providing clients with referrals to other agencies, sending public legal education material and providing limited legal information in specific identified areas;
  • Answering other calls, taking messages, arranging couriers, sending and delivering faxes and mail;
  • Maintaining accurate database and filing system;
  • Drafting letters;
  • Track access to information requests and responses;
  • Arranging legal aid lawyers to represent clients at hearings;
  • providing advocacy and litigation support for advocates and lawyers;
  • may assist with IT and website; and
  • keeping the office organized and tidy, vacuuming and taking out recycling and garbage every other week.

 

Basic Qualifications:

  • grade 12 education and training in administrative assistance;
  • knowledge of computer systems; and
  • adequate typing speed.

 

Skills and Abilities:

  • able to be discreet and to exercise excellent judgment in matters of ethics and confidentiality;
  • ability to work well with others in a team setting;
  • must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in particular in dealing with people in prison, lawyers, prison and parole officials;
  • must have ability to deal with distressed clients in a calm and respectful manner; and
  • must have a desire to assist those convicted of various crimes in a non-judgmental way, including those with mental health disabilities, those with low income, or those whose first language is not English.

 

Salary:  $41,490 (benefits after 6 months)

Closing date:  April 25, 2022

Starting date:  May 2022

Interested applicants should submit a covering letter describing why they would like to work in a social justice oriented organization that serves people in prison, together with a résumé outlining how their qualifications meet the position requirements to:

Jennifer Metcalfe, Executive Director
Prisoners’ Legal Services
Tel: (604) 853-3114
Fax:  (604) 853-1038
Email: jmetcalfe@pls-bc.ca