Legal Assistant/Paralegal

$66,670 - $104,861/Yr

Colorado Federal Public Defender - Denver, CO

Full-time - Entry Level

Denver, CO

About the position

The Colorado office of the Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Colorado and Wyoming is seeking a dedicated legal assistant/paralegal to join our Denver office. This position is crucial as the Office of the Public Defender operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act (18 U.S.C. § 3006A), representing individuals who cannot afford legal counsel in federal courts. Our office is committed to addressing the unique needs of our clients, and we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. We value individuals from all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, and veteran status. As a legal assistant, you will provide essential secretarial and clerical support to staff attorneys who represent indigent clients charged with criminal offenses. Your routine duties will include maintaining attorneys' calendars, arranging meetings and calls, filing pleadings with the appropriate courts using CM/ECF systems, and organizing case files. You will also handle case management functions, receive and route incoming calls and mail, and perform various secretarial tasks as assigned. For those with the requisite knowledge and experience, there is an opportunity for promotion to a paralegal role, which entails drafting pleadings and correspondence, proofreading documents, utilizing legal terminology, and conducting legal research. You will be expected to analyze records, prepare summaries of discovery, compile trial notebooks, and assist in all aspects of case preparation. Building relationships with clients and attending court appearances to observe hearings will also be part of your responsibilities. This role requires a proactive approach, anticipating the needs of the legal team and completing tasks with minimal direction. Additionally, you will have opportunities to train other office members and CJA panel members on best practices related to your duties.

Responsibilities

• Provide secretarial and clerical support to staff attorneys.
• Maintain attorneys' calendars and arrange attorney-client meetings and telephone calls.
• File pleadings with appropriate courts using CM/ECF systems.
• Organize case files and handle case management functions as assigned.
• Receive and route incoming telephone calls and mail.
• Deliver and collect documents from the courts.
• Perform other secretarial functions as assigned.
• Draft pleadings and correspondence for attorneys as a paralegal.
• Proofread attorney-drafted pleadings for content, grammar, and punctuation.
• Utilize knowledge of legal terminology and communicate with retained experts.
• Research case law and cite check on behalf of attorneys.
• Analyze records and files to offer case-related recommendations.
• Prepare summaries of discovery, exhibits, and other case-related materials.
• Compile trial notebooks, exhibits, and files.
• Create electronic pleadings indexes and track case lists and deadlines.
• Assist in all aspects of case preparation and develop relationships with clients.
• Attend court appearances to observe hearings, track exhibits, take notes, and provide feedback.
• Anticipate the needs of the legal team and complete tasks without formal direction.
• Attend trainings and train members of the office and CJA panel on best practices.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years of general office experience.
• One to three years of specialized legal assistant experience.
• Proficiency in Word and Excel for Microsoft 365.
• Attention to detail and strong proofreading skills.
• Superior organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with others.
• Ability to adapt to change and prioritize tasks.
• Experience with criminal litigation and electronic case filing is preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with marking briefs and generating tables of contents and authorities.
• Experience at a Federal Public Defender office.

Benefits

• Federal Employees Retirement System
• Thrift Savings Plan (401k)
• Paid annual and sick leave
• 11 paid federal holidays
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance