Intake Paralegal

Appellate Advocates is a nonprofit public defender organization, based in New York City, providing high-quality representation of individuals who have been convicted of crimes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island and cannot afford private lawyers. We are a group of attorneys from diverse backgrounds who are experienced in criminal law and believe in fighting for every person’s constitutional right to a fair trial and in working to overturn unjust convictions and sentences and provide other post-conviction services.

Appellate Advocates is deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. To this end, we seek to:

• Hire staff that reflect the full range of racial, ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic identities of the communities we represent, particularly those communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system;
• Ensure a workplace where diversity and inclusion is fostered and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged; and
• Ensure that all staff members feel welcome, respected, and have equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the organization.

Position Description: We are seeking to immediately hire a paralegal to conduct intake and screen cases. Paralegal responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

• Creating, organizing, and maintaining the physical and electronic files for newly assigned clients;
• Entering client information into our case management system;
• Requesting transcripts, court files, and other documents from courts, the District Attorney’s Office, and other state/city agencies;
• Coordinating with mailroom staff to pick up transcripts and files from NY state courts and to print out files;
• Filing received documents and client correspondence;
• Maintaining a list of cases ready for screening;
• Screening cases by reviewing the client’s court file and transcripts to ensure completeness; and
• Other administrative and clerical duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• An interest in criminal defense and social justice;
• Strong organizational skills and rigorous attention to detail;
• A self-directed ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively;
• Familiarity with Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access;
• Bi-lingual capabilities valued.

Salary and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience, with a range from $52,147 to $59,703. Appellate Advocates offers a generous benefits package, including health and vision insurance, a 401(k), flexible spending and transit account, and paid sick and vacation time.

Application Deadline: rolling until filled

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a single PDF document to apply@appad.org, referencing “Intake Paralegal Position” in the subject line.

All employees at Appellate Advocates are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Official documentation of vaccination status must be provided to the Human Resources Department prior to the first day of work.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $52,147.00 - $59,703.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Travel requirement:

• No travel

Ability to Relocate:

• New York, NY 10038: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person