Paralegal

Posting Date

Application Deadline

Pay Range

Job Type

Department

About the Position

Do you enjoy researching complex issues? Are you able to analyze, organize and summarize discovery and other legal documents? Do you enjoy working on a team with a common goal? If this describes you, apply now to become a Paralegal with the Maricopa County Office of the Legal Defender.

As a Paralegal, you provide paraprofessional paralegal support to attorneys to assist in all aspects of case management. Your expertise in researching complex legal issues will help develop defense strategies and trial preparation. Your ability to collect, organize, analyze, and summarize discovery and other legal documents will help our clients receive justice for their cases.

About The Office of the Legal Defender

The Office of the Legal Defender consists of attorneys and support staff helping to provide quality legal representation to indigent individuals assigned to us by the court, thus safeguarding the fundamental legal rights of each member of the community.

Start your career adventure with us and seek just and equitable treatment for our clients!

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement

• Exceptional work-life balance

• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents

• Child care benefits including access to our on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families exclusively

• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave

• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts

• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

• Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• An associate's degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, or legal assisting AND

• Two years of experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or related work

OR

• Associates in any field and a Certificate of completion from an accredited legal assisting or paralegal studies program – 2 years of experience needed OR

• Bachelor’s or higher in paralegal studies, legal assistance, or legal studies  – no experience needed OR

• Bachelor’s or higher in any field and an Associate's or Certificate of completion from an accredited legal assisting or paralegal studies program – no experience needed

• Valid Arizona driver’s license upon hire

We Also Value

• A Paralegal degree or certificate from an ABA-approved school

• Prior paralegal experience working in the criminal justice system

Job Contributions

• Collect, analyze, organize, investigate, and summarize discovery or other materials

• Assist attorneys with preparation for various types of legal proceedings, including but not limited to creating trial notebooks, witness files, trial exhibits, and charts/indices

• Develop and secure discovery, evidence, and other documentation

• Perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which an attorney is responsible

• Assist attorneys in the development of defense strategies and case theories

• Assist attorneys in jury selection and trial proceedings

• Gather, review, and verify case documentation, including making recommendations for further analysis

• Interact with attorneys, management, co-workers, other agencies, and interested parties

• Prepare routine to moderately complex legal or other documents

• Utilize technological software to aid in file management, case synopsis, and presentations in courtroom proceedings

• Perform work in a high-volume, fast-paced, stressful environment

• Maintain current knowledge of statutes, case law, and legal procedures to ensure compliance with court procedures

• Maintain case files and case logs

• Attend legal seminars, training classes, and position-oriented meetings on- and off-site

• Travel to and from court locations, government facilities, and other job-related locations as necessary, which may include periodic travel outside of Maricopa County, subject to County policies regarding vehicle use

• Compile annotations, indexes and provisions of statutes, cases, or administrative decisions

Working Conditions

• Most work is performed in an office environment

• Requires contact with the public and close working relationships with other staff members, and

• May require visiting clients/witnesses in a variety of settings

• Requires viewing traumatic subject matter including crime scenes, accidents, etc.

• Ability to meet deadlines with a high volume of work, interruptions, time pressures, handling multiple or complicated tasks, unscheduled tasks, frequently changing tasks, accuracy, decision making, concentration/vigilance, and/or teamwork

• Ability to constantly sit, stand, walk, and/or drive a vehicle to perform corresponding tasks

• Ability to lift 25 pounds from the floor to waist or waist to shoulder; carry 25-30 pounds a distance of 100 feet; or push/pull 100 pounds a distance of 1000 feet

Selection Procedure

• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!