Paralegal - Madison Appellate Office

Introduction

The Wisconsin State Public Defender's office (SPD) is recruiting to fill one full-time Paralegal position for the Madison-Appellate office. SPD's mission is to enhance the quality of justice throughout Wisconsin by providing high-quality, cost-effective representation to indigent clients, protecting the rights of accused individuals, and by serving as advocates for effective defense services and a rational criminal justice system.

What We Offer

• Access to excellent comprehensive benefits, including the region's best health plans
• Generous paid time off starting with 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays, and ample sick leave
• Participation in one of the nation's top-rated pension plans
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Professional development encouraged and supported with a wide variety of training opportunities
• An inclusive, human-centered, and family-friendly culture

Who We Are

SPD provides legal representation for persons who are accused of crimes or are defendants in certain specified civil matters, and who meet statutory financial eligibility criteria. The mission of the SPD is to zealously represent clients, protect constitutional rights, and advocate for an effective and fair criminal justice system. Our commitment is to treat our clients with dignity and compassion, as they are at the center of everything we do.

Position Summary

This position provides assistance and support to attorneys appointed to provide legal services.

Salary Information

Starting salary will be between $24.12 and $35.06 per hour (pay schedule/range 07-04). A one-year probationary period will be required. Final selected candidates may be eligible for moving expense reimbursement to relocate to the place of employment.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Preparing legal documents (e.g., drafting, editing, proofreading and formatting letters, motions, briefs, etc.)
• Working with Google Workspace products
• Effective oral, written, and communication skills
• Ability to interact professionally with diverse groups (e.g., office staff, clients, courts, etc.) and people from different ethnic, cultural, political, economic and religious backgrounds

A well-qualified candidate will also have experience and/or training in:

• Paralegal experience
• Working with criminal justice system

How To Apply

Click "Apply for Job" to start the application process. You will be prompted to access your existing account or create a new account. You will be asked to attach a resume and a letter of qualifications. It is important that these materials clearly illustrate how your skills and experience relate to the qualifications required for this job. Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. If both of these documents are not submitted, you will not be eligible for consideration. Application materials will not be accepted if received in an email, as a hard copy or a fax. Materials submitted by all applicants will be evaluated by one or more job experts. Candidates who are deemed eligible will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to apply for this position, please reach out to the HR Specialist listed below.

Deadline to Apply

The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm on Thursday, September 17, 2026. If you have any questions on this recruitment or how to apply, please contact Monica Endres at endresm@opd.wi.gov.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.