Paralegal

Office of the Colorado State Public Defender; Centennial, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the Colorado State Public Defender in Centennial seeks a Paralegal to support trial teams across regional offices. This entry‑level position assists attorneys by organizing discovery, preparing case files, and drafting routine legal documents under supervision.

You will help create trial notebooks, manage transcripts, review materials, and coordinate with appellate and defense teams. Strong organizational skills and a commitment to client confidentiality are essential.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with criminal procedures and discovery handling.
• Ability to draft routine motions and legal memoranda.
• Strong organizational skills and case-file management.

Responsibilities

• Manages and organizes discovery; converts files to PDF; builds trial notebooks.
• Reviews and summarizes discovery materials and transcripts; requests records.
• Researches statutes and case law as requested by attorneys; assists with conflicts checks.
• Searches case-related information to aid case prep and defense strategies.
• Keeps defense teams updated as new information is added to files.
• Drafts routine motions, briefs and memoranda; files pleadings and motions.
• Supports appellate packets and coordinates with Appellate Office as needed.
• Tracks case status and deadlines to ensure timely filings; communicates with clients.
• Provides hearing/trial support including jury selection, witness tracking, and AV setup.
• Handles correspondence with clients and collateral agencies; performs general admin.
• Ensures compliance with diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Skills

Discovery management

Legal research

Drafting motions

Trial support

Appellate coordination

Client communication

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

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.