Indigent Defense Paralegal & Client Advocate

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia; On-site; USD 48,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Defenders- Indigent Defense Commission is seeking to fill the Paralegal position in Chesterfield to support attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists in the Public Defender’s Office. The Paralegal reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Chesterfield office and is employed at-will.

The role includes building and maintaining a database of community resources, assisting attorneys with bond motions and re-entry plans, connecting clients to services, drafting legal memos, and

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent proofreading and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage a large caseload in various stages of the administrative/legal process.
• Ability to perform legal research.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to meet deadlines.
• Teamwork is highly valued in a criminal defense setting.
• Knowledge of social services and familiarity with Chesterfield County resources is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a database of community and criminal justice resources.
• Assist attorneys in preparing bond motions and re-entry plans for incarcerated clients.
• Develop systems to connect clients to services and mitigation resources.
• Communicate with clients and witnesses under tight deadlines in a client-centered manner.
• Conduct legal research and draft legal memos for attorneys.
• Connect clients to local and regional resources as needed.
• Assist leadership in identifying gaps in local support networks for court-involved clients.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Analytical skills

Written and verbal communication

Proofreading

Caseload management

Legal research

Independent work

Initiative/goal orientation

Teamwork

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Paralegal certification (ABA-accredited)

Job description

Virginia Defenders- Indigent Defense Commission is seeking to fill the Paralegal position in Chesterfield to support attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists in the Public Defender’s Office. The Paralegal reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Chesterfield office and is employed at-will.

The role includes building and maintaining a database of community resources, assisting attorneys with bond motions and re-entry plans, connecting clients to services, drafting legal memos, and