Senior Criminal Paralegal

Simms Showers LLP is a mission-driven firm that integrates faith into the practice of law with excellence, aiming to help people and glorify God. Our shared faith shapes our culture, which is both intellectually rigorous and genuinely warm, fostering collaboration and mutual investment among team members.

About the role

The Senior Criminal Paralegal serves as the lead paralegal for the firm's Criminal & Traffic Division, providing advanced legal, operational, and administrative support to two Criminal & Traffic Partners. This position manages complex criminal and traffic matters from client intake through case resolution while overseeing the daily workflow and development of a team of paralegals and legal assistants. The role ensures the Criminal & Traffic team operates efficiently by coordinating case management, supervising support staff, maintaining quality control of legal documents and court filings, and serving as the primary liaison between attorneys, staff, clients, and the courts.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Management
  • Supervise, train, and mentor a team of paralegals and legal assistants.
  • Assign and prioritize work to ensure deadlines and attorney needs are met.
  • Review staff work for accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
  • Coordinate daily workflow between the Partners, paralegal, and legal assistants.
  • Develop and improve team procedures, workflows, and best practices.
• Case Management & Client Intake
  • Oversee intake and onboarding for new criminal and traffic matters.
  • Review prospective client information and prepare case summaries for attorneys.
  • Manage client and matter setup and ensure files are complete and organized.
  • Monitor court dates, deadlines, payment plans, and other case requirements.
  • Coordinate case activity from intake through resolution and ensure outstanding items are addressed.
• Legal Support
  • Prepare and coordinate court filings, including notices, motions, orders, subpoenas, and discovery requests.
  • Collect, organize, and review discovery and case-related evidence.
  • Assist attorneys with case preparation, hearings, and trials.
  • Prepare trial binders, exhibits, and other materials needed for court.
  • Coordinate filing, service, and follow-up of legal documents.
• Client Communication
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for clients throughout their matters.
  • Communicate professionally with clients regarding case status, court dates, documents, and attorney meetings.
  • Coordinate client meetings, consultations, and conference calls.
  • Obtain and organize client documents and information needed for case preparation.
  • Handle sensitive or difficult client interactions with professionalism and discretion.
• Operational Support
  • Serve as the primary operational point of contact for the Criminal & Traffic team.
  • Support the Partners with department workflow, case tracking, and administrative needs.
  • Monitor team workload and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
  • Assist with onboarding and training new team members.
  • Maintain case reports, spreadsheets, and other internal tracking systems.
  • Assist with special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of criminal law paralegal experience.
• Previous supervisory or leadership experience.
• Extensive knowledge of Virginia criminal and traffic court procedures.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple attorneys and numerous active cases simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure legal environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $70,000-$85,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.
• Significant retirement benefits including 401(k) with 4% firm match, cash balance, and profit-sharing contributions.
• Multiple health insurance options with the firm paying 75% of individual premiums for all plans and 60% of all qualified dependents.
• Paid time off.