Paralegal - Arlington
Job no: 5041713
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Categories: Law / Judiciary
Title: Paralegal - Arlington
State Role Title: Investig and Legal Support I
Hiring Range: $56,815.00 + Local Salary Supplement + State Benefits
Agency: Indigent Defense Commission
Location: ARLINGTON 322
Agency Website:
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC), a Commonwealth of Virginia Independent Agency, is dedicated to protecting and defending the rights of our clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. The Arlington Public Defender Office is now accepting applications for the position of Paralegal. The qualified candidate will provide support for attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists in the Public Defender's office. The Paralegal position reports to the Public Defender of the Arlington Office and is employed at-will.
Duties :
The Office of the Public Defender for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church maintains a zealous, client-centered practice with a caseload that consists of many clients with mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses. In addition, it resides in a County where
sentencing trends are evolving, requiring substantial input from an informed, prepared group of advocates. Our paralegal plays a critical role in serving our clientele and producing information and data in support of our mission, both pretrial and at sentencing. For these reasons, in addition to traditional paralegal tasks, this position may participate in fact investigation of alleged criminal conduct, investigation of mitigation witnesses and evidence, and sentencing advocacy. Specific tasks may include:
•Assist attorneys with review of Body Worn Camera and other video and audio evidence.
•Assist attorneys in retrieving and reviewing discovery and submitting discovery responses.
•Communicate with clients and witnesses.
•Interview potential witnesses for bond and sentencing hearings.
•Collection and review of clients' records.
•Coordinate clients' release and/or bond plans and entry into homeless services.
•Create and maintain database of re-entry and social-behavioral resources for clients.
•Develop relationships with service providers and county stakeholders (e.g., treatment programs, Continuum of Care participants, homeless services, vocational programs, etc.).
•Monitor progress of competency clients and status in hospitalization and restoration.
•Assist with overflow sentencing advocacy and mitigation cases as needed by interviewing, requesting records, and writing memorandums.
•Coordinate expert evaluations by requesting records and communicating with clinicians.
•Communicate with clients about completion of course obligations for deferral cases and review hearings.
•Legal drafting.
•Assist attorneys in preparing cases for trial.
•Other duties as assigned.
The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
Minimum Qualifications
•A demonstrated commitment in equal justice and public service is essential to success in this position.
•A valid operator's license and transportation.
•Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to organize, analyze, and summarize complex information.
•Comfort working in a challenging and fast-paced environment and dealing with difficult and complex subject matters.
•Diligence and attention to detail.
•Ability to manage a large caseload with a wide variety of tasks and regular deadlines.
•Ability to perform legal and social science research.
•Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
Additional Considerations
•Experience working with individuals suffering from mental illness.
•Paralegal experience including conducting legal research.
•Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
•Skills or experience interviewing fact, mitigation, and sentencing witnesses.
•Training or education in forensic psychology or social work.
•Fluency in Spanish or other language
Special Instructions
Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration.
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
While creating an account through the state system will save your basic information (please remember your username and password), applications are NOT saved for future openings. We encourage you to apply to any and all of the positions you may be considering within the IDC.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship.
Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. IDC does not accept "see resume" as a response to any question. Information on the application is the primary source used for screening the position. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested, during the application and/or interview process.
This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan.
Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry into the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates.
Contact Information
Name: Ashley Washington
Phone: 804-662-7249
Email:
In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
Advertised: 28 Jan 2025 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 11 Feb 2025 Eastern Standard Time