Criminal Defense Paralegal – Trial Support (Bilingual)

State of Colorado; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Diversity & Inclusion initiatives

Job summary

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender is hiring a Paralegal to support regional trial offices in handling discovery, case preparation, and legal documentation. This role requires a paralegal certificate or relevant degree and experience in legal support functions.

Preferred qualifications include bilingual English/Spanish, legal writing experience, and background in criminal defense, supporting indigent clients.

Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA approved program or accredited institution
• Associates or Bachelor's degree in social sciences, humanities or related field
• Two years of training and experience performing legal support functions such as organizing and preparing large legal case files for review by an attorney or presentation in court; legal research; preparing client communications; preparing drafts of or proofreading legal documents; and, compiling and analyzing records and data from legal sources

Responsibilities

• Manages and organizes discovery. Converts electronic files to PDF and other formats. Builds trial notebooks, creates digital bookmarks and indexes for easy reference and access by the attorneys and defense team.
• Reviews and summarizes discovery, videos, and witness interviews. Orders transcripts. Identifies matters of significance and brings to the attention of the defense team.
• Reviews client charges, pleadings, and court orders and researches legal issues as requested by the attorney such as searching and reviewing statutes, case law, and legal articles for legal precedent, mitigation and sentencing considerations.
• Searches case-related information as requested by the attorney such as, trending media, news publications, and anything referencing the case, client, codefendants or witnesses that may assist in the preparation of the case, hearing, trial, juror selection or defense strategies.
• Drafts routine and standard motions, briefs and legal memoranda. Proofreads and edits motions prepared by attorneys. Files pleadings and motions. Redacts documents.
• Tracks and monitors case status and critical timelines on assigned cases to ensure court filings are processed in accordance with established criminal procedures, rules and laws.

Skills

Independence

Initiative

Multi-tasking

Deadlines

Legal research

Legal writing

Bilingual English/Spanish

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

Paralegal certificate (ABA approved)

Associate or Bachelor's degree in social sciences, humanities or related field

Job description

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender is hiring a Paralegal to support regional trial offices in handling discovery, case preparation, and legal documentation. This role requires a paralegal certificate or relevant degree and experience in legal support functions.

Preferred qualifications include bilingual English/Spanish, legal writing experience, and background in criminal defense, supporting indigent clients.