Paralegal Client Advocate, Parole Revocation Defense Unit
About The Position
Subject to funding, the Parole Revocation Defense Unit of the Legal Aid Society has two openings for a Paralegal Client Advocate in the Bronx office. The position will consist of working with the supervised community on re-entry issues to prevent those at risk for reincarceration and provide secondary support to the staff attorneys in all phases of parole revocation cases. The position will involve significant communication with clients, attorneys, social workers and court personnel, as well as a working knowledge of the NYS parole revocation process. The positions will involve frequent travel during the work week to other PRDU offices, courthouse locations, community sites and correctional facilities in New York City, as needed. The position will include regular visitations with PRDU clients in the office, at the courthouse, or other hearing locations on scheduled court dates, and visitation with clients at their individual correctional facilities. Client and hearing date visitation should focus on discussing their case, identifying potential legal issues, exploring the client’s life and social circumstances in the community, creating or obtaining community contacts to assist the client with housing, employment and community treatment needs to assist in client in obtaining release and achieve successful completion of parole supervision. The position will also involve assisting attorneys in representing clients in parole revocation hearings, writs of habeas corpus proceedings, including filing writs and creating and managing weekly court calendars, Article 78’s and appeals, as well as corresponding with clients, their families and contacting community programs and services. Responsibilities will also include the research, drafting and writing of memoranda and preparation of other documents, including but not limited to discovery demands, correspondence, and subpoenas.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree (strongly preferred)
- A paralegal certificate from an ABA accredited paralegal program
- At minimum a high school diploma / GED and 4+ years of legal work experience
- 4+ years of combined higher education and legal work experience
- Excellent writing skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Excellent computer and word processing skills, including Excel
- The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team
- Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people and non-citizens
- Notary Public or willingness to become one
- Valid NYS driver’s license helpful
- Knowledge of New York criminal law and criminal procedure is strongly desired
- Proficiency in a language other than English is desirable
Responsibilities
- Interview and assess client requests for services, facilitate referrals to partnering service providers and provide other forms of direct client assistance
- Assisting attorneys with obtaining and preparing relevant documents for the parole revocation hearings and any other related proceedings
- Advise client of relevant re-entry services and programs and advocate for program placement.
- Corresponding with clients, their families, courts, adversaries and corrections officials to assist in release and re-entry back to the community
- Visiting Rikers Island Correctional Facilities and other facilities as needed
- Preparing documents for filing
- Writing memoranda and preparing reports
- Updating information in Law Manager
- Other duties as assigned
Benefits
- health insurance
- paid vacation
- disability
- life insurance
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
- State and Federal loan forgiveness programs
- New York state assistance with loan repayments (depending on years of practice)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
