Paralegal

Defender Association of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

14d • $50,000 - $52,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is seeking a dedicated Paralegal for our Municipal Court Pre-trial Unit (MCPTU). The MCPTU focuses on reducing mass incarceration by supporting clients before trial through a variety of diversion and other programs. This paralegal in MCPTU is primarily assigned to two diversion programs: Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) and Domestic Violence (DV) Diversion. The paralegal handles a wide-ranging set of tasks to assist the program attorneys in case preparation and file management. This paralegal will be cross-trained on diversion programs including Veterans’ Court, The Choice is Yours (TCY), Early Bail Review (EBR), and Treatment Court to serve as backup if needed. This position works closely with the program attorneys to ensure accurate scheduling, track data, manage caseloads, communicate with clients and other tasks to support the program. The program attorneys will direct the day-to-day work of the paralegal.

Requirements

• Experience working with indigent clients in criminal justice proceedings preferred.
• High School Diploma required.
• Strong communication skills.
• Must be team-oriented, possess strong interpersonal skills, and be able to work effectively with a diverse population.
• A desire to provide high quality legal representation to Defender clients
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work in a high-volume practice and prioritize assignments effectively, alongside a strong commitment to professionalism in the workplace.
• Knowledge of basic administrative/clerical systems and procedures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite with the ability to quickly learn multiple internal and external computer systems.
• Must be able to travel to local courtrooms on a weekly basis and may have occasional travel to community placements and possible travel to local jails

Nice To Haves

• Post-secondary school and/or college education, paralegal certification preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain all legal files (processing new arrests, active clients, bench warrant files).
• Coordinate the referral of cases to the District Attorney’s Office for ARD and DV Diversion.
• Update the database and DCM (referrals, rejections, approvals, court dates, attach documents).
• Prepare active cases for court appearances, including preparing referral forms for Evaluations (CRN/FIR) and referral forms for treatment programs (anger management, mental health).
• Correspond with clients concerning completion of CRN evaluation, providing auto insurance information and scheduling the review of ARD Offer Packets; compliance with treatment programs.
• Prepare and send ARD Offer Packets to Clients.
• Send Signed ARD Offer Packets to the District Attorney’s Office and monitor the e-filing of offers.
• Assist the Attorney in the Courtroom and Handle Status Hearings.
• Oversee DV Diversion expungement and early termination of ARD/Expungement process for successful graduates from start to finish; including creating all petitions, and filing.
• Answer questions from other attorneys and keep them informed of referral statuses and eligibility.
• Act as a liaison between attorneys, clients, staff, etc.
• Take notes and mark files with all appropriate notations.
• Answer questions from clients and attorneys in courtroom and collect paperwork.
• Assist with the Drexel Research Project on the costs of ARD.
• Prepare files for court, create shared prep sheet, reach out to clients to update their contact information to excuse from court, and schedule legal interviews.
• Assist attorney/law clerk in courtroom, answer client questions, explain ARD offers to clients.
• Cross-train with other MCPTU Paralegals and provide backup as needed.
• Conduct legal client interviews as needed at local jails or in the office.
• Perform other duties as assigned by MCPTU supervisors.

Benefits

• Affordable medical care options plus employer paid vision, dental, life and long- term disability insurances
• 25 days of paid time off (PTO) annually, in addition to all federal holidays
• Dedicated, separate sick leave policy alongside organizational programming to support your physical and mental health
• 10 weeks of paid parental leave
• Generous retirement savings plan with Employer Match
• Free Septa All Access Key card
• Union Membership: This role is represented by AFSCME, District Council 47, Local 3190
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer
• Meaningful, mission-driven work within a supportive, learning-focused, and collaborative environment.

What This Job Offers

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