Paralegal - Madison Appellate Office

Wisconsin State Public Defender; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 33,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Paid time off

Pension plan

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Job summary

Wisconsin State Public Defender seeks a full-time Paralegal for the Madison-Appellate office to support attorneys providing legal services to indigent clients. The role involves drafting, editing, and managing legal documents, with collaboration across staff and courts.

You will work with a diverse team, contribute to a fair justice system, and commit to professional development within a respected public service environment. The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm on September 17, 2026.

Qualifications

• Drafting, editing, proofreading and formatting legal documents.
• Experience with Google Workspace.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with diverse groups.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys in providing legal services in assigned matters.
• Prepare, draft, and manage legal documents and correspondence.
• Communicate with clients, courts, and office staff professionally.
• Utilize Google Workspace to organize case materials.

Skills

Legal document prep

Professional communication

Client interaction

Intercultural communication

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Introduction

Are you seeking a rewarding and challenging career? Bring your skills to the Wisconsin State Public Defenders office (SPD) and make a difference in the lives of Wisconsin residents! The SPD is currently recruiting to fill one full-time Paralegal position for our Madison-Appellate office.

SPD's mission is to enhance the quality of justice throughout Wisconsin by providing high-quality, cost-effective representation to indigent clients, protecting the rights of accused individuals, and by serving as advocates for effective defense services and a rational criminal justice system. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. To learn more, visit our website at http://wispd.gov.

What We Offer:

• Access to the region's best health plans


• Generous paid time off starting with 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays, and ample sick leave for work/life balance


• Participation in one of the nation's top-rated pension plans


• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (if you have student loans)

Why Work With Us?

At the SPD, we pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive, human-centered and family-friendly culture, where everyone is encouraged to bring their "whole self" to work. Professional development is encouraged and supported, and we offer a wide variety of training opportunities to help you grow in your career. Our leadership's goal is to provide a work environment dedicated to ensuring that each and every staff member is treated with respect and dignity, recognizing each individual's contributions to the team. We encourage all applicants to read about the SPD's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here.

Who We Are:

SPD provides legal representation for persons who are accused of crimes or are defendants in certain specified civil matters, and who meet statutory financial eligibility criteria. The mission of the SPD is to zealously represent clients, protect constitutional rights, and advocate for an effective and fair criminal justice system. Our commitment is to treat our clients with dignity and compassion, as they are at the center of everything we do. To learn more about the various career paths and opportunities at the SPD please click here.

Position Summary

This position provides assistance and support to attorneys appointed to provide legal services. Join our team and contribute to this key function of SPD and experience the intrinsic reward of public service.

Salary Information

Starting salary will be between $24.12 and $35.06 per hour, which is in pay schedule/range 07-04. A one-year probationary period will be required. Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer, voluntary demotion, or reinstatement) for a position assigned to the stated pay range or counter-part pay range, should complete the application process as described below by the stated deadline. Final selected candidates may be eligible for moving expense reimbursement to relocate to the place of employment.

Job Details

Background Check: We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. A criminal background check will be done prior to an offer of employment.

Eligibility to work in the US: The SPD does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants from all backgrounds. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

Veterans: The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for the application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.

Qualifications

• Preparing legal documents (e.g., drafting, editing, proofreading and formatting letters, motions, briefs, etc.)


• Working with Google Workspace products


• Effective oral, written, and communication skills


• Ability to interact professionally with diverse groups (e.g., office staff, clients, courts, etc.) and people from different ethnic, cultural, political, economic and religious backgrounds

A well-qualified candidate will also have experience and/or training in the following areas:

• Paralegal experience


• Working with criminal justice system

Deadline to Apply

The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm on Thursday, September 17, 2026.