Appellate Advocates is a nonprofit public defender organization, based in New York City, providing high-quality representation of individuals who have been convicted of crimes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island and cannot afford private lawyers. We are a group of attorneys from diverse backgrounds who are experienced in criminal law and believe in fighting for every person’s constitutional right to a fair trial and in working to overturn unjust convictions and sentences and provide other post-conviction services.
Appellate Advocates is deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. To this end, we seek to:
• Hire staff that reflect the full range of racial, ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic identities of the communities we represent, particularly those communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system;
• Ensure a workplace where diversity and inclusion is fostered and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged; and
• Ensure that all staff members feel welcome, respected, and have equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the organization.
Position Description: We are seeking to immediately hire a paralegal to support our attorneys and clients by undertaking administrative and clerical tasks necessary to our work. Paralegal responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Preparing court filings by, among other things, drafting the cover, table of contents, and affirmation of service, creating the table of authorities, formatting documents, compiling the exhibits/records, and assembling the PDFs for electronic filing;
• Electronically filing motions, briefs, stipulations, and other documents to the courts;
• Coordinating with the mailroom to print and serve filings on the District Attorney’s Office, our clients, and the courts;
• Requesting transcripts, records, and other documents from courts, prison facilities, and state/city agencies;
• Scheduling legal calls or visits on behalf of attorneys and social workers;
• Proofreading and redacting documents;
• Contacting courts, prison facilities, and other organizations/agencies;
• Closing cases;
• Corresponding with clients;
• Other administrative tasks as needed.
Qualifications:
• An interest in criminal defense and social justice;
• Strong organizational skills and rigorous attention to detail;
• A self-directed ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks;
• Well-developed interpersonal communication skills;
• Bi-lingual capabilities valued;
• Familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access; Wordperfect; and Adobe Acrobat.
Salary and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience, with a range from $53,711.93 to $70,405.38. Appellate Advocates offers a generous benefits package, including health and vision insurance, a 401(k), flexible spending and transit account, and paid sick and vacation time.
Application Deadline: August 30, 2024.
To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a single PDF document to apply@appad.org, referencing “Paralegal Position” in the subject line.
All employees at Appellate Advocates are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Official documentation of vaccination status must be provided to the Human Resources Department prior to the first day of work.
Appellate Advocates is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. Appellate Advocates is deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce, and seeks to hire staff that reflect the full range of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic identities of the communities we represent, particularly those communities disproportionately affected by the criminal legal system. We strongly encourage people historically underrepresented in the practice of law to apply.
