Paralegal, Strategic Litigation

Innocence Project•New York, NY

2d•$72,800 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Strategic Litigation Department works to bring scientific integrity to the courtroom by advancing reform through litigation. Our department works to improve case law in ways that help to prevent future wrongful convictions. In particular, our focus is to compel courts to meaningfully fulfill the obligations of the judicial gatekeeping function by preventing evidence that is not scientifically reliable or valid from being admitted, and create new legal precedent consistent with science consensus. Our litigation focuses on the three leading contributing factors to wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence: eyewitness misidentification, the misapplication of forensic science and emerging technologies, and false and/or coerced confessions. Outside of these specific areas, we have a robust amicus curiae practice in state high courts and the Supreme Court, which focuses on broader criminal legal system reform issues. Our advocacy agenda is advanced primarily through litigation, but also through policy initiatives, consulting, training, public speaking, stakeholder work, and scholarship. The Paralegal, Strategic Litigation provides support to Strategic Litigation (SL) attorneys at the Innocence Project and is a vital part of the Strategic Litigation team. This paralegal will work directly with the two lawyers in the Department who focus on issues related to eyewitness misidentification and coercive police interrogation. The paralegal is actively engaged in department happenings, eager to learn all facets of the department and is expected to assist with case research, development and management, and time-sensitive litigation matters. The paralegal is detail-oriented enough to organize and maintain litigation resources necessary to efficiently and effectively manage the Strategic Litigation department’s cases and to serve counsel who seek our assistance. This position is ideal for someone with a strong interest in the criminal legal system and a desire to attend law school or pursue other postgraduate education in a related field. The Paralegal, Strategic Litigation reports to the Director of Strategic Litigation and works closely with the Department’s Staff Attorneys and the other paralegal. At the Innocence Project, we wholeheartedly commit to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We encourage all candidates to apply, regardless of whether they meet all of the stated requirements listed for this position. We recognize the importance of embracing, respecting, and valuing the diverse perspectives and experiences of our staff, which enriches our work and advances our mission. We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas. The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours of work per week to be performed virtually/in-office. We currently have a hybrid in-office model, with all employees in the office three days per week and the remainder of the week remotely. Wednesday is our organization’s “anchor day” where all staff works in the office. The number of required in-office days is subject to change.

Requirements

Bachelor's or paralegal certificate plus 1 year experience, or equivalent level of prior legal experience (4 years)
Superior editing and proof-reading skills required
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Energetic self-starter who is highly organized, persistent, detail-oriented and works well under pressure
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize and effectively manage workload, and regularly meet deadlines
Commitment to social justice, anti-oppression, and anti-racism work; with a particular interest in the mission of the Innocence Project
Strong interpersonal and written communication skills and flexibility to work with different personalities
Strong interest in the field of law
Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest
Shared commitment to the IP’s values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Legal Search Engines such as Westlaw and LexisNexis is ideal, but not required
An ability and willingness to travel is preferred

Responsibilities

Prepare court documents for filing, proofreading briefs, reviewing citation format in briefs for completeness in accordance with Bluebook
copy, collate, and bind documents and exhibits, prepare tables of contents and tables of authorities, review and summarize court rules
Arrange for litigation-related travel and related reimbursement
Respond to requests from outside counsel for materials and litigation support
Manage SL attorneys’ travel and speaking schedules
Assist with budget planning, including managing budget documents and working with the finance departments to maintain updated records
Monitor case acceptance by state high courts and track pending litigation in areas of interest to SL
Perform investigative and legal research in support of active SL cases
Evaluate and summarize the evidence in cases of potential interest and identify the potential to advance the unit’s strategic goals
Track and record SL attorneys’ litigation, consultation, and trainings for quarterly reports to the Innocence Project’s Board of Directors
Draft SL listserv emails distributing exemplar briefs, judicial opinions, and scientific literature
Assist in creating and maintaining litigation-related resources, such as expert witness CVs, their prior trial testimony and research, model briefs, and motions
Collaborate with the SL attorneys, Policy Advocates, and members of the Data Science and Research Department to maintain a database of scientific literature
Participate in the hiring process for any open positions within the Department, including but not limited to assessing candidates’ applications and conducting preliminary interviews
Arrange and set agendas for weekly Department meetings and other Department events, as needed