Paralegal - Court Specialist

Make a difference! Become a Defender! 

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is seeking a highly organized, professional, and detailed oriented paralegal – court specialist for our Municipal Court Pre-trial Services Unit (MCPTSU). The MCPTSU focuses on reducing mass incarceration by supporting clients before trial through a variety of diversion and other programs. This paralegal – court specialist in MCPTSU is primarily assigned to two diversion programs - Veterans’ Court (Vet Court) and The Choice is Yours (TCY).  The paralegal handles a wide-ranging set of tasks to assist the program attorneys in case preparation, file management, client contact and court communication both in office and in court. This paralegal will be cross trained on diversion programs and serve as backup if needed. The program attorneys will direct the day-to-day work of the paralegal. The role is a liaison between all parties to effectively represent and advocate for clients. If you are meticulous about details, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and are driven by mission-oriented work, we encourage you to apply. 

What You’ll Do

• Maintain all legal files within the programs
• Coordinate the referral of clients/cases to the DAO for Vet Court and TCY
• Update database/DCM (referrals, rejections, approvals, court dates, attach documents)
• Prepare active cases for court appearances, including gathering documents, obtaining releases, and preparing referrals for treatment programs 
• Oversee expungement process for successful graduates from start to finish; create list of eligible participants (both PD and OCS clients), draft and file petitions
• Keep an up to date internal list of all participants in both programs, and pending referrals 
• Field questions from case managers, clinical evaluators, DA, Judge, FJD staff
• Correspond with clients about the status of their case 
• Answer questions from attorneys and keep them informed of referral statuses and eligibility
• Work with Prison Services and Early Bail Review to ensure custody clients are interviewed and scheduled for bail hearings
• Help recruit and direct the work of undergraduate interns
• Provide backup other MCPTU Paralegals as needed
• Conduct legal client interviews as needed at local jails or in the office.
• Perform weekly tasks In court:
  • Appear in Vet Court every Thursday, and in TCY every other Wednesday along with the assigned attorney 
  • Assist attorneys in the courtroom and handle status hearings
  • Act as a liaison between attorneys managing TCY / Vet Court, clients, court, etc.
  • Take notes and mark files with all appropriate notations
  • Answer questions from clients and attorneys and collect paperwork
  • Explain the program to outside counsel and answer questions
  • Complete return work following hearings
  • File and certify court documents and orders 
  • Explain expungement process to successful graduates

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor or Associate degree with paralegal certification, or any equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience, preferred
• Experience working with indigent clients in criminal justice proceedings, preferred.
• Ability to interact and communicate professionally with clients, family members, community members, office, and court personnel
• Must have analytical and interpretive skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Computer literacy and the ability to learn internal and external computer systems
• Ability to learn the court system and internal and external procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Travel to court on a weekly basis and occasionally travel to community placements and to local jails if necessary. 

Benefits & Perks

• Generous and rich benefits plan including choice of affordable medical plans, and employer paid: dental, vision, life insurance, long term disability insurance and professional liability insurance
• Substantial paid time off- close to 35 days off plus all federal holidays
• Retirement Savings Employer Match
• Paid parental leave
• Free Septa Anywhere Key Card
• Public Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer
• Meaningful Work 
• Wellness Benefits
• Ongoing Training and Development of You

Salary: 

$63,000 with an outstanding benefits package

How to apply:

Please submit an online application with a detailed cover letter describing related experience and interest in the role. Applications missing a cover letter will not be considered. 

Who is the Defender Association? 

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers. The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Our unique model and approach give our staff with the skills and support they need to get the best outcomes for our clients. Come join our team! For more information, go Defender’s Pretrial Unit and follow  us @PhillyDefenders (Twitter, IG, Tiktok) and on LinkedIn. 

The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.