Paralegal

New York County Defender Services (NYCDS) is a nonprofit criminal defense law firm for the City and State of New York. What began in 1997 as a small but ambitious criminal defense firm has grown into the second largest criminal defense firm in New York County handling over 20,000 cases per year. The goal of NYCDS has always been to provide the highest quality criminal representation for those ensnared in the criminal justice system. A mission like this requires an unyielding desire to serve. With a staff of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals and administrative staff, we strive to provide the greatest good for our clients which not only includes legal representation but also assisting clients with an array of social services. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website: www.nycds.org.

Job Overview: Paralegals are responsible for assisting NYCDS attorneys in all aspects of their legal representation of clients to aid in achieving the best possible outcomes on their cases. This is a two-year position with an option to extend to a third year when appropriate.

Job Responsibilities: Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

· Assisting in client interviews, including incarcerated clients.

· Assisting attorneys in jury selection during trials.

· Filing papers, motions and other court filings.

· Organizing and digesting discovery.

· Archiving cases.

· Support attorneys as they prepare and conduct trials and hearings.

· Provide coverage to other paralegals who are “buddies” on the team while they are on vacation or on trial.

Job Requirements: Proficiency in MS Office, MS Excel and MS Word. Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work. Attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and work in a team setting.

Skills: Must have excellent interpersonal, communication, and analytical skills.

Competencies: Ability to manage multiple working relationships with professionalism.