Paralegal

Paralegal Position at Colorado State Public Defender's Regional Trial Offices

The Colorado State Public Defender's regional trial offices are recruiting for a Paralegal position. 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 include managing and organizing discovery, building trial notebooks, creating digital bookmarks and indexes, reviewing and summarizing discovery, videos, and witness interviews, ordering transcripts, reviewing client charges, pleadings, and court orders, researching legal issues, searching case-related information, keeping attorneys and defense teams updated, drafting routine and standard motions, briefs and legal memoranda, preparing appellate packets, tracking and monitoring case status and critical timelines, providing support for hearings or trials, drafting and responding to correspondence, and performing a variety of administrative tasks.

Minimal educational and professional qualifications include a paralegal certificate from an ABA approved paralegal studies program or accredited institution, or an 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. Preferred qualifications include bilingual Spanish speaking, experience in legal writing, experience in a criminal justice or criminal defense environment, and experience working in an environment serving indigent populations. Skills required include the ability to work independently, take direction from multiple individuals, prioritize and multi-task, make and implement decisions where no precedent or training guides exist, strong organizational skills, ability to search and correlate client case-related information, conduct legal research using legal research tools, prepare and finalize immigration advisements in appropriate cases, demonstrated passion and dedication to non-citizen client base, and compliance with applicable laws and practices to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.