SUMMARYThe Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender is searching for an experienced paralegal to join its Adult Trial Unit. The successful candidate will be responsible for the preparation and maintenance of case files for the representation of Adults in pretrial, trial, and appellate matters.The Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender is committed to delivering the highest standard of legal representation to adults and juveniles in criminal matters, including trial, sentencing, and appeals. We understand that each case is unique and strive to provide collaborative, client-centered and community-oriented representation. Our team of over 40 attorneys is dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes in the cases we handle, while also addressing the underlying issues that have led to our clients' involvement in the justice system and improving their lives.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Prepare, file, and organize legal documents, including pleadings and motions, both physically and electronically.
Draft correspondence to clients, courts, and both internal and external stakeholders.
Identify potential conflicts of interest and file appropriate motions with Courts as directed.
Provide administrative support to various units, including Pre-Trial, Violation, Behavioral/Veteran Court, Trial, ARD/Violation, and Appellate/State Parole.
Manage pretrial and trial lists, ensuring timely updates and filings.
Process and close case files.
Offer customer service and assistance at the counter.
Attend relevant training and prepare summaries.
Perform additional duties as specified by Management.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTSTo be successful in this role, an individual must be able to accomplish each of the essential duties satisfactorily. Necessary abilities, skills and knowledge are outlined below. We may make accommodations to enable those with disabilities to meet the physical demands and work environment expectations.
High School Diploma/GED.
Paralegal Certification or relevant experience preferred for the Paralegal position.
General knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and office workflows.
Proficiency in Office 365, including SharePoint, Dynamics, and related applications
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
Ability to organize and distribute received discovery data to unit attorneys.
Strong typing skills (minimum 45 wpm for Office Support position, typing test required)
High attention to detail and accuracy in data management and document preparation
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Excellent communication skills; articulate and professional interactions with clients, stakeholders, and the public.
Fluency in Spanish preferred, but not required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. We may make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.WORK ENVIRONMENT:The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
