Paralegal (Appeals/PCR)

Posting Date

10/16/24

Application Deadline

10/29/24

Pay Range

$22.75 - $37.75 hourly

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. The position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Legal Defender

About the Position

Come be a part of a dynamic legal team as a Paralegal at the Office of the Legal Defender

As a Paralegal, you will work side-by-side with attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, and legal support. In this role, 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.

This position will initially be assigned to fill a current Paralegal vacancy in the Appeals and PCR unit.

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

Perform work with a greater purpose

Tuition Reimbursement

Growth and stability since 1871

Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

Exceptional work-life balance

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

Enrollment in Arizona State Retirement System

Paid vacation, sick, and parental (birth/adoption) leaves

Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12.27% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

Extensive wellness program with $60 monthly medical premium discounts

Employee discounts for goods and services

Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

Two years of experience as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal

Associate’s degree in paralegal studies, legal assisting, or legal studies

Associate’s degree in any field and a certificate of completion from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved legal assistant or paralegal studies program may substitute for the required education

Valid Arizona driver’s license upon hire

We Also Value

Bachelor’s degree or higher in paralegal studies, legal assisting, or legal studies

A Paralegal degree or certificate from an ABA-approved school

Prior paralegal experience working in the criminal justice system

Previous experience as an Appellate and/or Post-Conviction Relief Paralegal

Familiarity with Arizona Rules or Criminal Procedure governing Appeals and Post-Conviction Relief

Proficiency in Westlaw or other similar case law search engines

Job Contributions

Assist attorneys with the development of defense strategies, case theories, jury selection, court proceedings and trial preparation including but not limited to creating trial notebooks, witness files, trial exhibits, and charts/indices

Maintain contact with clients (in and out of custody), clients’ families, or other pertinent individuals regarding legal process, case status, and/or other related information

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

Gather, review, and verify case documentation; make recommendations for further analysis

Develop and secure discovery, evidence, and other documentation

Assist in updating and maintaining the database/case management system for litigation support and trial use

Perform delegated substantive legal work for which an attorney is responsible and prepare routine to moderately complex legal or non-legal documents

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

Apply knowledge of statutes, case law, and legal procedures to ensure compliance with court procedures

Research legal or factual issues and provide findings to attorneys

Working Conditions

Most work is performed in an office environment

This position 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

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

Ability to lift, carry, or push up to 35 pounds for 100 feet

May be required to push and/or pull a minimum of 30 pounds for a distance of one-half mile

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

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