Paralegal II

The Legal Aid Society • New York, NY

7d • $57,174 - $87,568

About The Position

The Criminal Appeals Bureau (CAB) of The Legal Aid Society is the largest
post-conviction public defender in New York City, annually providing holistic,
client-centered representation to over 1,000 people with misdemeanor, felony,
and homicide convictions.  We represent low-income people in all five boroughs
who are challenging their criminal convictions on appeal or in other
post-conviction proceedings.  Our practice includes direct appeals of judgment
convictions as well as collateral litigation such as 440 motions, Domestic
Violence Survivors Justice Act resentencing applications, and Sex Offender
Registration Act hearings and appeals.
CAB has an opening for a Litigation Paralegal II.  The successful candidate will
assist CAB attorneys in managing their large and active caseloads, including
tasks such as: obtaining and summarizing institutional records from corrections
and other agencies, drafting motions, scheduling legal calls, and corresponding
with clients.  The position will require interfacing with court personnel,
prosecutors and Legal Aid Society attorneys, and may include travel to
courthouses, jails and prisons.  Expected start date will be July 2026.

Requirements

• Eligible candidates must have at least one of the following: An associate degree (or additional higher education) A paralegal certificate from an ABA accredited paralegal program A high school diploma / GED and 4+ years of related work experience, at least 2 of which are as a paralegal
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent computer skills, including strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and PDF programs
• Excellent organizational skills with an ability to multitask and manage a large workload without sacrificing a strong attention to detail
• High degree of professionalism
• Highly motivated with a willingness to work as a team and adapt to the changing needs of the practice
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Experience in or a commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income individuals and people of color
• Ability to make a minimum two-year commitment to The Legal Aid Society

Nice To Haves

• Some knowledge of New York criminal law and criminal procedure a plus but not required
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred
• A paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program is preferred
• Proficiency in a language other than English is a plus but not required

Responsibilities

• Obtaining, reviewing, and synthesizing institutional records from DOCCS and other agencies
• Corresponding with clients via mail and assisting them with the execution of documents
• Drafting, preparing, and serving/filing motions
• Preparing briefs and other documents for filing
• Scheduling legal calls with clients
• Updating and organizing physical files and our case management system, including preparing files for final review after case has been resolved;
• Visiting clients in state prisons and city jails, and/or preparing clients for parole hearings as needed
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Benefits

• health insurance
• paid vacation
• disability
• life insurance
• qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees