Managing Criminal Defense Paralegal (DMV)

Price Benowitz Llp; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Mental health support

Job summary

Price Benowitz LLP seeks a Managing Criminal Defense Paralegal to lead the Criminal Defense support staff and provide hands-on paralegal support for complex federal and DC criminal defense matters. The role emphasizes leadership, oversight, and a strong background in Washington, DC and federal practices.

The ideal candidate will have a stable career in permanent paralegal roles, extensive experience in criminal defense, and prior management responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of substantive criminal defense paralegal experience, with more extensive experience preferred for managing level.
• Washington, DC criminal defense experience strongly preferred.
• Federal criminal defense experience strongly preferred.
• Prior management experience is required, including supervising and mentoring paralegals or legal staff.
• Stable employment history in permanent paralegal roles is preferred; frequent short-term roles are not ideal.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the Criminal Defense paralegal and support staff team.
• Provide hands-on paralegal support to attorneys handling complex criminal defense matters.
• Support cases in Washington, DC Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and other federal matters.
• Manage criminal cases through intake, investigation, hearings, trial preparation, sentencing, and post-trial matters.
• Draft, review, and prepare motions, pleadings, subpoenas, discovery documents, and other filings.
• Prepare and electronically file documents in DC and federal courts.
• Coordinate and manage discovery, including reviewing and organizing large volumes of records and evidence.
• Maintain attorney calendars and track court appearances and deadlines.
• Communicate professionally with clients and families regarding case status and scheduling.
• Coordinate with attorneys, investigators, experts, court personnel, and other parties.
• Prepare hearing and trial materials, exhibits, witness files, and litigation support materials.
• Monitor case progress and identify outstanding tasks and deadlines.
• Maintain up-to-date electronic case files.
• Train and mentor Criminal Defense staff and establish processes and standards.

Skills

Paralegal experience

Criminal defense expertise

Leadership/management

Time management

Communication

Legal drafting

Organization

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal case management systems

Electronic filing systems

Job description

Company Overview

Price Benowitz LLP is a mid-sized law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices and attorneys throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. Our practice areas include Criminal Defense, Family Law, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Trusts & Estates, and more.

Guided by our core values of Passion, Integrity, and Excellence, we are committed to delivering exceptional legal services while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and supportive workplace.

Position Summary

Price Benowitz LLP is seeking an experienced Managing Criminal Defense Paralegal to join our Criminal Defense practice. This is a hands-on leadership position for an accomplished criminal defense paralegal who can effectively manage complex matters while providing leadership, guidance, and oversight to the Criminal Defense support staff.

The ideal candidate has significant experience with Washington, DC and federal criminal defense matters and understands the procedures, deadlines, filings, and demands associated with a fast-paced criminal defense practice.

Our strong preference is for a candidate located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area who can work from our DC office. However, we will consider exceptional candidates outside the DC metro area for a fully remote arrangement, provided they are available for occasional travel to Washington, DC as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the Criminal Defense paralegal and support staff team, including workflow, assignments, priorities, and deadlines.
• Provide hands-on paralegal support to attorneys handling complex criminal defense matters.
• Support cases in Washington, DC Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, as well as other federal matters as applicable.
• Manage criminal cases throughout the litigation lifecycle, from intake and investigation through hearings, trial preparation, sentencing, and post-trial matters.
• Draft, review, and prepare motions, pleadings, correspondence, subpoenas, discovery-related documents, and other legal filings.
• Prepare and electronically file documents in DC and federal courts while ensuring compliance with applicable rules, procedures, and deadlines.
• Coordinate and manage discovery, including reviewing, organizing, summarizing, and maintaining large volumes of records, reports, video, audio, and other evidence.
• Maintain attorney calendars and track court appearances, filing deadlines, hearings, trials, client meetings, and other critical dates.
• Communicate professionally and compassionately with clients and their families regarding case status, documentation, scheduling, and other case-related matters.
• Coordinate with attorneys, investigators, experts, court personnel, government agencies, and other parties as necessary.
• Prepare hearing and trial materials, exhibits, witness files, attorney notebooks, and other litigation support materials.
• Monitor case progress and proactively identify outstanding tasks, approaching deadlines, and potential issues.
• Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date electronic case files.
• Train, mentor, and support Criminal Defense staff while helping establish consistent processes and high standards across the team.
• Accurately record billable time and assist with other case management and administrative responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of substantive criminal defense paralegal experience, with more extensive experience strongly preferred for this managing-level position.
• Washington, DC criminal defense experience is strongly preferred.
• Federal criminal defense experience is strongly preferred.
• Prior management experience is required, including experience supervising, leading, mentoring, and providing day-to-day direction to paralegals or legal support staff.
• Strong and stable employment history in permanent paralegal positions, demonstrating sustained responsibility, reliability, and professional growth. Candidates whose recent experience consists primarily ofcontract, temporary, project-based, or short-term assignments will not be considered for this managing-level position.
• Strong familiarity with criminal court procedures, filings, discovery, deadlines, and litigation practices.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex criminal matters and anticipate attorney and case needs.
• Excellent legal drafting, proofreading, organizational, and case management skills.
• Strong experience managing discovery and preparing matters for hearings and trial.
• Ability to prioritize multiple active cases and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, and client service.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, legal case management systems, electronic court filing systems, and related legal technology.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for aseasoned criminal defense paralegal with a strong, stable career history who combines substantial hands-on criminal defense experience with demonstrated management experience.

This is a managing-level position, and we are specifically seeking someone who has developed their expertise throughsustained employment in permanent paralegal roles with increasing levels of responsibility. A history demonstrating professional stability, reliability, and long-term commitment to prior employers will be an important consideration in our selection process.Candidates whose backgrounds consist primarily of temporary, contract, project-based, or frequently changing short-term positions are not the profile we are seeking for this role.

The successful candidate is proactive and takes ownership of their work. They do not simply wait for assignments; they anticipate what attorneys and cases need, identify potential problems before they arise, follow through independently, and ensure matters continue moving forward.

As a manager, this individual must be comfortableleading staff, establishing priorities, delegating work, monitoring performance, mentoring team members, maintaining accountability, and serving as a knowledgeable resource for the Criminal Defense team.

Given the nature and seniority of this position,meaningful Washington, DC and federal criminal defense experience, demonstrated management experience, and a strong and stable employment history will be particularly important in our evaluation of candidates.

Schedule & Location

• Full-time position
• Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM Eastern Time
• Strong preference for candidates in the Washington, DC metropolitan area who can work in person from our DC office.
• Exceptional candidates outside the DC metro area may be considered for a fully remote arrangement, as long as they are WITHIN COMMUTABLE DISTANCE from DC.
• Remote candidates must be available for occasional commuteto Washington, DC as business needs require.

Compensation

$43-$48/hr., depending on experience, qualifications, and relevant DC and federal criminal defense background.

Additional Information

Price Benowitz LLP offers a comprehensive benefits package, including employer-supported medical, dental, and vision insurance, mental health support, disability and life insurance, and other benefits available to eligible employees.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value professionals who share our commitment to Passion, Integrity, and Excellence.