Paralegal I, Criminal Appeals Bureau
Paralegal I, Criminal Appeals Bureau (CAB) #25-94
New York, New York, United States
Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed
May 20, 2025
Job Description
The Legal Aid Society houses the largest post-conviction public defense practice in New York City, annually providing holistic, client-centered representation to over 1,000 people with misdemeanor, felony, and homicide convictions. We represent low-income people in all five boroughs who are challenging their criminal convictions on appeal or in other post-conviction proceedings.
This position will provide word processing and administrative support to our Criminal Appeals Bureau with a particular focus on our specialized units such as the Wrongful Conviction Unit, Parole Advocacy Project, Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act unit, and Case Closed. Responsibilities will include opening cases and updating data in our internal databases; sending introductory documents to clients; scanning and organizing records; assisting for formatting documents; and providing general administrative support. The position requires excellent attention to detail and fluency with Microsoft Office programs as well as an interest in learning the procedural nuances of an intricate post-conviction practice.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Open new cases on case management system and updates cases with additional information and documents
- Help maintain the accuracy of our data in our internal databases by reviewing reports and correcting data as necessary
- Send questionnaires and introductory documents to new clients and handles basic client correspondence
- Scan and organizes hard-copy records
- Assist with formatting documents and submissions
- Provide general administrative support and coverage to other parts of CAB as needed
- Other responsibilities as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications:
- Eligible candidates must have at least one of the following:
- A high school diploma / GED
- At least 2 years of work experience
- High proficiency in word processing and computer skills, especially Microsoft Office and a PDF program
- Excellent administrative and organizational abilities with ability to multi-task and manage a large workload
- Excellent attention to detail
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
- Ability to problem-solve
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.
Salary Range: $53,295 - $81,795
The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.
Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness
The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.
hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs
WORK AUTHORIZATION
All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)
HOW TO APPLY
All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.
Location
Manhattan - Legal Aid Society Headquarters