Paralegal

State of Colorado; Brighton (CO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

FSA – Healthcare and Dependent Care

HSA Plan with Employer Contribution

Generous Paid Time Off & Sick Leave

Flexible Schedules

11 paid holidays

Mental Health Resources

Colorado PERA

Job summary

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender (OSPD) is seeking a Paralegal to support trial and appellate work in regional offices. You will organize discovery, prepare case files, and assist attorneys with research, motions, and preparing documents in a fast-paced defense environment.

Ideal candidates have ABA-approved paralegal certification or equivalent education, strong organizational skills, and bilingual abilities are a plus.

Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate from ABA approved program or accredited institution.
• Associates or Bachelor's degree in social sciences, humanities or related field.
• Two years of training/experience in legal support functions such as organizing large legal files, legal research, client communications, drafting or proofreading documents.

Responsibilities

• Manages and organizes discovery, builds trial notebooks, creates digital bookmarks and indexes for attorneys.
• Reviews and summarizes discovery, orders transcripts, notes significant matters for defense.
• Searches case-related information to support defense strategies and trial preparation.
• Drafts and revises motions, briefs and memoranda under attorney direction; files pleadings and motions.
• Tracks case status and timelines to ensure filings comply with procedures; keeps lawyers and clients informed.
• Provides support for hearings or trials, including jury selection, witness tracking, exhibits, and AV technical support.
• Performs administrative tasks to support the defense team and ensures compliance with policies and procedures.

Skills

Independent work

Team coordination

Prioritize multitasking

Decision making

Organizational skills

Legal research

Education

ABA-approved paralegal certificate

Associate or Bachelor's degree in social sciences/related field

Two years of legal support experience

Job description

Application Deadline: 10/16/2026
Cover Letters are required, please upload your cover letter and resume as one document. Failure to do so may result in immediate disqualification or the rejection of the application.

About the Colorado State Public Defender

Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) maintains a reputation as one of the top organizations in the nation specializing in the delivery of indigent criminal defense. We operate as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch of Colorado State Government with nearly 1,000 dedicated employees assigned to twenty-one Regional Trial Offices, a centralized Appellate Division, and a centralized Administrative Office. The mission of OSPD is to defend and protect the rights, liberties and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We do so by providing constitutionally and statutorily mandated representation that is effective, zealous, inspired and compassionate. We seek to hire professionals who are dedicated to furthering our mission and demonstrate compassion in their service to our clients. We are a fast paced, team-oriented environment, where self-motivation and a personal commitment to high performance are important attributes for success.

Notes on Employment Eligibility

• This position requires State of Colorado residency on your first day of employment, and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position. No relocation assistance will be available.
• Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position now nor in the future.

Benefits of Working for the OSPD:

• Medical Insurance
• Basic Vision Insurance - included with medical plans
• Dental Insurance
• State Paid Life Insurance
• State Paid Short-Term Disability
• FSA – Healthcare and Dependent Care
• HSA Plan with Employer Contribution
• Generous Paid Time Off & Sick Leave
• Flexible Schedules
• 11 paid holidays
• Access to Mental Health and Well-Being Resources
• Colorado PERA
• 401(k) and 457 Supplemental Retirement Plans

For more information on benefits please visit https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-of-colorado-employee-benefits. For additional information on PERA visit www.copera.org.

Additional information about the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender can be found at: http://www.coloradodefenders.us/

Position Purpose and Objectives/Definition of Work

We are recruiting to fill a Paralegal position Colorado State Public Defender’s regional trial offices. This classification describes the first level within the series wherein employees learn and apply criminal procedures, rules and laws guiding legal practice in criminal defense; and, apply the principles and practices of a paralegal nature to support and assist with a variety of litigation needs. Positions perform duties and assume responsibility for supporting divisions, units, cases and clients under the specific direction, instruction and guidance of a defense attorney. Public Defender paralegals serve as part of the defense team, and as such, are bound by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct including rules regarding the attorney-client privilege and client confidentiality.

Primary Duties and 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. Creates spreadsheets to manage and organize case records and information including, but not limited to, discovery, witnesses, evidence and exhibits.
• Reviews and summarizes discovery, videos, and witness interviews. Orders transcripts. Identifies matters of significance and brings to the attention of the defense team. Reviews discovery with the client. Requests and reviews client records, court records and transcripts to complete case files.
• 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. May assist attorneys in identifying potential conflicts of interest.
• 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.
• Keeps attorneys and defense teams updated as new information is added to the case files.
• Under the attorney’s direction and review, drafts routine and standard motions, briefs and legal memoranda. Proofreads and edits motions prepared by attorneys. Files pleadings and motions. Redacts documents.
• Paralegals in the trial offices may prepare appellate packets and coordinate with the Appellate office to ensure timely provision of materials. Paralegals in Appellate, review appellate packets and communicate with the trial offices and other counsel about additional materials needed to timely file Notices of Appeal or complete the record.
• 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. Keeps attorneys and clients apprised, as appropriate.
• Provides support for hearings or trials as requested by the attorney including, but not limited to, jury selection; tracking of witnesses; tracking of exhibits; client communication; note taking and documentation of events; coordination of trial materials; and, providing technical assistance with audio/visual platforms for evidence and develops Power-Point presentations.
• Drafts and responds to correspondence from clients, client family members, and representatives from collateral agencies, to obtain and exchange pertinent information in accordance with policy and procedure.
• Performs a variety of administrative tasks as needed to support the defense team and client, which requires the processing of forms, documents and transactions in accordance with State Office policy and procedure.
• Performs all duties to ensure compliance with applicable laws and practices to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimal Educational & Professional Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA approved paralegal studies program or accredited institution

-OR-

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

-OR-

• Two years of a combination 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;

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual Spanish Speaking
• Experience in legal writing
• Experience in a criminal justice or criminal defense environment
• Experience working in an environment serving indigent populations

Skills (position requirements at entry)

• Must be able to work independently and take initiative to complete tasks
• Ability to take direction from multiple individuals
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task; as well as be deadline and detail-oriented
• Experience making and implementing decisions where no precedent or training guides exist
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to search and correlate client case-related information
• Ability to conduct legal research using legal research tools
• Under attorney direction, prepare and finalize immigration advisements in appropriate cases
• Demonstrated passion and dedication to non-citizen client base
• Performs all duties to ensure compliance with applicable laws and practices to promote diversity, equity and inclusion
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, both oral and written, preferred

Physical Requirements

Employees must be able to meet the physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Requires talking, hearing, seeing, and using electronic devices such as computers.

• Occasionally required to stoop and kneel;
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time;
• Talking and hearing;
• Reaching with hands and arms, using hands and fingers.

JOB APPLICATION FAIRNESS ACT

Resumes must include dates of employment but, you may redact or remove any information that will identify your age, date of birth or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING:

OSPD is committed to maintaining a workplace where everyone feels respected, accepted, and valued. With this in mind, we strive to create an inclusive workplace that embraces different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. We will continuously review our company policies and hiring practices to foster a fair and equitable work culture.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, marital status, or other protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Consistent with this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including the application and selection process.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail].

If you have questions about the application or encounter any issues during the application process please contact us at [e-mail].

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.