Paralegal - Criminal Appeals Unit, Private Counsel Division

Committee for Public Counsel • Boston, MA

2d

About The Position

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking a full-time Paralegal in the Private Counsel Division Criminal Appeals Unit.
We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.
The Private Counsel Division Criminal Appeals Unit assigns attorneys to approximately 800 post-conviction cases yearly. These are cases in which an individual has been convicted of a crime after a trial or has pleaded guilty to a crime. The unit also oversees approximately 400 attorneys on the post-conviction panel.
The Criminal Appeals Unit (CAU) is seeking a full-time Paralegal to assist post-conviction panel members on direct appeals of adult criminal convictions. The Paralegal must have a commitment to ensuring that individuals convicted of crimes are provided with zealous post-conviction representation.
Under the direction of the CAU attorneys, the Paralegal will assist attorneys in assembling the case records necessary for direct appeals of adult criminal convictions and assist CAU attorneys with court filings and obtaining records and transcripts. The Paralegal will also create and maintain client, case, and panel attorney electronic records as well as respond to inquiries from CPCS clients, courts, and other stakeholders.
The Paralegal will report to the Director of the Criminal Appeals Unit.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal certificate
• Access to reliable transportation in order to travel to locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely
• Two years of paralegal experience may be substituted for the degree/certificate.

Nice To Haves

• Facility with Monday.com (preferred); MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint; Outlook and OneDrive
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to perform factual research via internal records, public records and on-line databases
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Skills and experience in interacting with persons of various social, racial, cultural economic and educational backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively orally and in writing
• Familiarity with Massachusetts criminal case dockets in the superior, district and appellate courts

Responsibilities

• Working with post-conviction panel attorneys, unit staff, criminal clerks’ offices in the trial courts, office of transcription services, and the CAU to assist panel attorneys gather case records
• Assisting unassigned clients with indigency paperwork, writing affidavits, and court pleadings
• Receiving criminal appeal referral forms and review for completeness and appropriateness for appellate assignment and following up as necessary with the referring attorney, Office of Transcription Services, or the courts
• Setting up client and case electronic folders and working with CAU staff to ensure efficient and timely posting of case assignments
• Assisting CAU attorneys filing status reports and docketing statements at the Appeals court and ordering transcripts
• Assisting CAU attorneys with legal research, public records, medical and other records requests
• Responding to phone, letter, and email inquiries from CPCS clients, attorneys, court personnel, and others
• Maintaining accurate electronic records, including case and client records
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level