Arraignment Paralegal (Manhattan)

The Criminal Defense Practice has an immediate opening for an Arraignment Paralegal. The Paralegal will provide arraignment coverage in the Manhattan Criminal Court, with the following schedule:

 

Monday ‐ Wednesday (5:00 p.m. ‐ 1:00 a.m.) and Friday - Saturday (5:00 p.m - 1:00 a.m.)

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• Work in a courthouse court part gathering client information for the attorneys
• Interact with clients and assist their families by providing case related information
• Access information from court records and assist attorneys
• Record case information using manual or electronic means
• Conduct criminal history and conflicts checks following established protocol
• Prepare written and electronic reports summarizing information complied
• Obtain and copy court and office files
• Assemble court files and materials for attorneys
• Liaison between attorneys and their clients
• Scanning and uploading criminal court files into LAS databases

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

• Eligible candidates must have at least one of the following:
  • A high school diploma / GED
  • At least 2 years of work experience
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people is strongly desired
• One year of experience in a legal or other relevant work (paid or unpaid) environment
• Fluency in a second language common to our client population preferred
• Some relevant college-level work and/or paralegal training preferred
• Position may require work in office, courtroom, and other “field” settings
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficient computer and word processing skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting
• Ability to multi-task

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles. 

  

Salary Range: $53,295 - $81,795

  

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits. 

  

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness 

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.  

studentaid.gov