Paralegal

About the role

The Travis County Public Defender's Office is a comprehensive public defender office envisioned to be client-centered, independent, and innovative to the needs of the Travis County community. Consistent with nationally recognized best practices, the PDO provides high-quality holistic defense representation and other support to its clients. We represent youth in Juvenile Court and adults, including those living with serious mental illness/intellectual or developmental disability, in Criminal Court. As a key part of the interdisciplinary team, paralegals work closely with PDO attorneys to address client needs as they relate to collateral civil proceedings that are impacted by or have an impact on the outcome of the criminal matter.

Responsibilities

• Meets with clients to obtain detailed information and records about needs as they relate to collateral civil proceedings that are impacted by or have an impact on the outcome of the criminal matter.
• Maintains complete and accurate notes related to information discussed with and obtained from clients.
• Reviews, screens, and analyzes case-related materials for assigned cases and provides thorough summary of client needs to other team members.
• Routinely updates internal case management database to reflect ongoing activity on each assigned case, including tracking deadlines and outcomes.
• Under attorney supervision, conducts basic legal research into intersection of civil and criminal law.
• Investigates and identifies resources and organizations to refer clients to for assistance with and/or possible representation in collateral administrative matters.
• Under supervision of and in consultation with attorneys, assists in helping clients understand administrative hearings and processes and clients’ rights related to those hearings and processes.
• Responds to inquiries from counsel representing PDO clients in related collateral proceedings and, after consulting with client and assigned attorney, may provide limited information regarding status of pending criminal cases.
• May select, train and supervise clerical support staff, including reviewing prepared files and documents.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field AND two (2) years experience as a paralegal; OR, Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
• Paralegal Certificate from a professionally recognized Paralegal/Legal Assistant program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to interview indigent clients to assess their legal and social support needs.
• Understanding of enmeshed penalties and collateral consequences triggered by criminal-legal system contact, including but not limited to, barriers to obtaining or maintaining access to public and/or disability benefits, housing, parental rights, property, education, driver’s, or occupational licenses.
• Ability to fluently speak and write in Spanish.
• Mission-aligned experience (work or lived) advocating on behalf of or supporting people/communities directly impacted by the criminal/immigration/indigent civil legal system.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Knowledge of law office management and administration.
• Knowledge of open meetings laws and Public Information Act.
• Knowledge of policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to Court system.
• Knowledge of discovery process.
• Knowledge of current legal trends in the interaction of law and professional ethics.
• Skill in acquiring, maintaining, organizing, analyzing and summarizing case evidence.
• Skill in understanding legal terminology and English grammar.
• Skill in case file examination for documentation accuracy.
• Skill in operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.
• Skill in both verbal and written communication.
• Ability to train and supervise clerical and administrative employees.
• Ability to accurately and succinctly summarize legal information.
• Ability to perform legal research.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, judges, attorneys, Court personnel, other participants in the civil justice system, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

The position may be filled before the closing date. Applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis.