Paralegal I - Coachella

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Law Offices of the Public Defender is accepting applications for a Paralegal I for the Coachella office.

This position performs a broad range of paralegal duties for one or more attorneys engaged in criminal law; assists in the preparation of cases for trial and hearing matters; prepares exhibits, witnesses, and indexes documents for trial, and performs other related duties as required.

The most competitive candidates will be those that have experience within a law office and experience with clients dealing with mental illness and/or substance abuse.

.

Meet the Team!

It is the mission of the Law Offices of the Public Defender to provide the highest quality legal representation to any person unable to afford it for criminal, juvenile, or certain civil proceedings.

The Public Defender strives to preserve human dignity in all cases where citizens' liberties are at stake.

The Public Defender is dedicated to the principle that no citizen shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without competent, professional, and vigorous representation so that due process is implemented fairly, equitably, and without prejudice.

The Public Defender is headquartered in Riverside, with additional offices providing support to residents in Banning, Blythe, Murrieta, and Indio.

Who May Apply?

This recruitment is open to all applicants.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Research and analyze law sources (i.e., statutes, ordinances, court decisions, criminal pleadings, police reports, legal documents, and articles) for use in preparing legal documents (i.e., briefs, pleadings, contracts, deeds, opinions, etc.), for review, approval, and use by an attorney.

• Interview witnesses, defendants, and others in civil or criminal cases for pre-trial orpre-hearingdeclarations; respond to propounding discovery and discovery requests.

• Correspond with clients and witnesses; collect client background information; assist in the identification of rehabilitative placement resources; research and identify placement resources for alternative sentencing of clients and assist in the placement therein of clients.

• Draft motions, memoranda of points and authorities, interrogatories and answers, complaints and answers, cross-claims, affidavits, briefs, and declarations.

• Review legal documents and forms for completeness and conformance to specific requirements set forth in applicable legal codes.

• Review and process requests for criminal record background information in order to determine the existence or non-existence of prior convictions.obtain criminal record information and related documents and screen for legal sufficiency.

• Gather factual information and perform routine legal research to assist an attorney in determining appropriate legal action.

• Perform preliminary analysis of legislative bills and research legislative histories.

• Summarize, organize, and index prior opinions, testimony, depositions, and documentary ma...