Would taking on a job at a private law firm (filing, answering phones etc.) be able to count for my community service hours?

A job is NEVER community service. It must be volunteer services. If you don't know what will count, you need to speak to the community service coordinator for the Court that ordered the community service.

Not likely. Ask the community service coordinator. Usually community service is unpaid, and fore some community good.

One, it is not community service, that is private service, and two, definitely not if you get paid. Maybe if you volunteered at legal aid.

Unfortunately, no. Community service hours are designed to be charitable and any job in which you would be paid would not qualify. In addition, a private law firm is not a non-profit entity and would not fit the criteria for community service. You could, possibly, volunteer at a legal free clinic like Gulf Coast Legal Services. If you have any doubt about whether your community service hours will count, call your probation officer-they have lists of local places that they have agreements with and your hours will count. I hope that answered your question.