Paralegal II - New York, NY

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MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Criminal Appeals Bureau (CAB) of The Legal Aid Society is the largest post-conviction public defender 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. Our practice includes direct appeals of judgment convictions as well as collateral litigation such as 440 motions, Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act resentencing applications, and Sex Offender Registration Act hearings and appeals.

CAB has an opening for a Litigation Paralegal II. The successful candidate will assist CAB attorneys in managing their large and active caseloads, including tasks such as: obtaining and summarizing institutional records from corrections and other agencies, drafting motions, scheduling legal calls, and corresponding with clients. The position will require interfacing with court personnel, prosecutors and Legal Aid Society attorneys, and may include travel to courthouses, jails and prisons. Expected start date will be July 2026.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Obtaining, reviewing, and synthesizing institutional records from DOCCS and other agencies
• Corresponding with clients via mail and assisting them with the execution of documents
• Drafting, preparing, and serving/filing motions
• Preparing briefs and other documents for filing
• Scheduling legal calls with clients
• Updating and organizing physical files and our case management system, including preparing files for final review after case has been resolved;
• Visiting clients in state prisons and city jails, and/or preparing clients for parole hearings as needed
• Other responsibilities as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Eligible candidates must have at least one of the following:
  
  
  
  • An associate degree (or additional higher education)
  • A paralegal certificate from an ABA accredited paralegal program
  • A high school diploma / GED and 4+ years of related work experience, at least 2 of which are as a paralegal
  
  
  
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent computer skills, including strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and PDF programs
• Excellent organizational skills with an ability to multitask and manage a large workload without sacrificing a strong attention to detail
• High degree of professionalism
• Highly motivated with a willingness to work as a team and adapt to the changing needs of the practice
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Experience in or a commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income individuals and people of color
• Ability to make a minimum two-year commitment to The Legal Aid Society

Preferred qualifications:

• Some knowledge of New York criminal law and criminal procedure a plus but not required
• A bachelor's degree is preferred
• A paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program is preferred
• Proficiency in a language other than English is a plus but not required

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: $57,174 - $87,568

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.

studentaid.govhesc.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 TalentAcquisition@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.

Manhattan - Criminal Defense Practice Office