Paralegal I - Discovery Unit #24-63

Job Description

The Criminal Defense Practice has citywide openings for full-time Discovery Paralegal I to provide client services to the Criminal Defense Practice clients. The recent historic discovery reforms will transform the law practice in the criminal legal system by requiring prosecutors to disclose evidence to accused people and their defense attorneys. In return, the new law requires reciprocal discovery be provided to the prosecution by the defense. Technology will be a vital part of the platform used to meet this new law.  To meet the needs of our clients, The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice created a unit to facilitate the receipt and transfer of electronic discovery. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Process receipt of discovery materials from the  prosecution including preserving materials and providing notice to assigned attorneys and staff
• Process receipt of certificates of compliance from the prosecution including preserving and providing notice to assigned attorneys and staff
• Review discovery materials for completion and compliance and oversee the timely processing of discovery materials and certificates
• Gather reciprocal defense discovery for assigned attorney review
• Process delivery of reciprocal discovery to prosecution
• Assist attorneys, paralegals, and investigators in accessing discovery materials
• Communicate with prosecution regarding any issues with the discovery materials
• Prepare written reports summarizing information compiled
• Obtain and copy court and office files
• Assemble court files and materials for attorneys
• Liaison between attorneys and their clients
• Perform functions in the support staff band, unrelated to the Paralegal I title, only as necessary and on a temporary basis
• Other duties as assigned

Required Documents

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed

Apr 25, 2024

Location

Queens - Criminal Defense Practice Office

Requirements

• GED or equivalent work experience (GED certificate, high school diploma, four years of responsible work experience, or some combination of work and education)
• Proficiency in computer, electronic data and file sharing software, word processing skills, Outlook, and Windows.
• E-discovery experience desirable
• E-file experience desirable and willingness to obtain credentials for future e-filing.
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people is strongly desired
• One year of experience in a legal or other relevant work (paid or unpaid) environment
• Some relevant college-level work and/or paralegal training preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Ability to multi-task
• Some knowledge of New York criminal law and criminal procedures
• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $50,250 to $71,925

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if, an offer is made.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

HOW TO APPLY


All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.