Paralegal - Wrongful Convictions Unit

About the role

The mission of the Office of the State Public Defender is to ensure that all indigent persons in Iowa are provided high quality legal representation in criminal, juvenile, and other eligible proceedings in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do As a Paralegal in this position, you will:

• Prepares legal documents and correspondence
• Reviews/proofreads legal briefs
• Reviews and compiles documents for appendices
• Completes appendices
• Completes final briefs
• Conducts legal research as directed
• Monitors EDMS (electronic filing system)
• Files legal documents in EDMS
• Reviews EDMS docket for complete access to the district court record
• Locates missing documents and exhibits
• Orders court record
• Enters case information into case management system
• Conducts conflict checks
• Tracks attorney work including monitoring new case assignments and appellate due dates, incoming state's briefs, court opinions, and miscellaneous Supreme Court filings
• Prepares and monitors attorneys' monthly case statistics
• Maintains office calendar
• Performs other duties such as answering telephone calls, answering routine questions from clients, family members, and attorneys, copying documents, transmitting printing, preparing mail, closing case files; communicates with court reporters, clerks of court, appellate court personnel, and department of corrections personnel
• Performs fiscal matters including reviewing court reporter claims and other billing invoices for supervisor approval; prepares purchase invoices; prepares items for surplus; delivers, tracks and reports checks received
• Serves as primary point of contact person for purchasing, project coordination, personnel, and information management system issues; for State Appellate Defender's Office programs and projects
• Communicate effectively both in writing and verbally, with a diverse population
• Conduct legal research with books and other printed materials and online using a computer and Westlaw
• Review files, determine conflicts, and take appropriate action based on file contents
• Write and edit motions, briefs, and conform to the proper format necessary for appellate requirements
• Manage administrative duties effectively, including following proper procedures to check out client files and other materials, and return them in a timely manner so they are available to other office staff
• Have high standards of ethical conduct; respond appropriately to supervision; ability to understand and apply work rules; ability to interact appropriately with all manner of individuals and officials
• Able to operate office equipment including computers (including using keyboard and mouse), telephones, photocopiers, and fax machines; basic PC skills, including word processing, e-mail