The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington (FPD) is hiring a full-time criminal defense paralegal to specialize in case management, including proofreading, formatting, and filing documents, while supporting attorneys and clients at all stages of a case. The paralegal should have document-production and editing experience, initiative, resourcefulness, creativity, compassion, and a desire to stand up for accused persons even when the evidence against them is strong. The FPD provides zealous and holistic legal representation to people charged with federal crimes who cannot afford an attorney.
Responsibilities: The paralegal will contribute to an inclusive office culture and collaborate with attorneys, investigators, social workers, and other staff to provide litigation support in federal district court and various appeals courts. The paralegal duties include the following:
- Format, proofread, and file pleadings in federal and state courts in compliance with office style guides and jurisdiction-specific rules and procedures
- Check citations and generate tables of contents and authorities in legal briefs
- Draft, format, proofread, and submit client letters and other correspondence
- Perform PACER and other online data searches
- Maintain case calendars in accordance with courtroom procedures and communicate with case team members about scheduling and deadlines
- Organize and help maintain electronic client files
- Assist with collecting client records
- Schedule legal calls
- Assist with electronic discovery management and organization
- Prepare materials for court hearings and trials
- Participate in team, department, and organization meetings and trainings
- Suggest and implement solutions to streamline workflow across the department, including back-up coverage for the operations unit at the discretion of the chief paralegal
Selection Criteria: The selected candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to high-quality document preparation, case management, client support, and teamwork. The paralegal must be able to manage a full caseload, prioritize tasks accordingly, and work flexible hours. The position demands excellent communication and organizational skills, proficiency with Microsoft Word and other document-preparation software, and a high degree of personal responsibility and integrity.