Arraignment Paralegal, Manhattan Trial Office

The Legal Aid Society • New York, NY

15h • $57,090 - $87,619 • Onsite

About The Position

The Criminal Defense Practice, the primary public defender in New York City, is seeking an Arraignment Paralegal for its Manhattan Trial Office. This role provides holistic, client-centered representation to individuals facing misdemeanor, felony, and homicide charges. The paralegal will be responsible for arraignment coverage in the Manhattan Criminal Court with a specific schedule: Sunday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Requirements

• A high school diploma / GED or at least 2 years of work experience
• One year of experience in a legal or other relevant work (paid or unpaid) environment
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficient computer and word processing skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting
• Ability to multi-task

Nice To Haves

• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people is strongly desired
• Fluency in a second language common to our client population preferred
• Some relevant college-level work and/or paralegal training preferred
• Position may require work in office, courtroom, and other “field” settings

Responsibilities

• Work in a courthouse court part gathering client information for the attorneys
• Interact with clients and assist their families by providing case related information
• Access information from court records and assist attorneys
• Record case information using manual or electronic means
• Conduct criminal history and conflicts checks following established protocol
• Prepare written and electronic reports summarizing information complied
• Obtain and copy court and office files
• Assemble court files and materials for attorneys
• Liaison between attorneys and their clients
• Scanning and uploading criminal court files into LAS databases

Benefits

• health insurance
• paid vacation
• disability
• life insurance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• State and Federal loan forgiveness programs
• assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments (for NY residents, depending on years of practice)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED