Paralegal, Post-Conviction Litigation (PCL Clinic)
Innocence Project, New York, NY, United States
About the Position
Post‑Conviction Litigation ("PCL") Paralegals provide research assistance, drafting, and administrative support to attorneys pursuing the Innocence Project’s core goals—freeing the innocent. PCL Paralegals are also responsible for general case management, records and data management, being responsive to time‑sensitive litigation‑related requests, and for more generally assisting with the organization and maintenance of various department resources.
PCL Paralegals have an expansive role. In addition to traditional paralegal tasks such as document management, preparation, and filing, they engage in tasks and make decisions that require out‑of‑the‑box thinking and good judgment. For example, they often collaborate with attorneys in the important tasks of engaging and communicating with clients and conducting investigations, and may be asked to work with other IP Departments (such as Communications).
This role, the Paralegal, Post‑conviction Litigation (PCL Clinic), is unique from other PCL paralegal roles in that it reports to one PCL attorney and has additional requirements to support the year‑long legal clinic and summer legal internship. The paralegal works collaboratively with all PCL Department staff and law clinic students, and may be asked to supervise and train interns, students and volunteers.
We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas and we are not an e‑verify employer.
The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours per week and may be performed virtually or in‑office. The current model is hybrid, with all employees in the office three days per week and the remainder of the week remotely. Wednesday is the organization’s "anchor day" where all staff works in the office. The number of required in‑office days is subject to change.
The Ideal Candidate
The Innocence Project seeks an energetic self‑starter who is highly organized and detail‑oriented. They understand how to work in an environment with tight deadlines and are flexible with competing and unpredictable priorities. Despite challenges, they are persistent and thrive under pressure. They have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and are enthusiastic about working directly with law students and supporting legal education. Most importantly, they are passionate about social justice and the mission of the Innocence Project and creating fair and just systems of justice for everyone.
In addition, the ideal candidate models our IP values of accountability, collaboration, empathy and compassion, equity, person‑centeredness, quality focus, and self‑awareness. All Innocence Project employees must embrace, respect and value the rich diversity of perspectives and lived experience of our staff.
Essential Job Functions
Assisting in Case Management and Litigation Strategy
Maintain up‑to‑date and well‑organized electronic records on our case management system, and paper case files and docket sheets.
Communicate daily with incarcerated clients and their family members.
Assist with evidence searches, discovery requests and responses, and preparing public records requests.
Review and accurately synthesize the factual background of cases, including police reports, lab reports, prior motions, trial transcripts and case files.
Develop a working knowledge of DNA testing.
Write memos about discrete fact‑based questions, such as whether case facts in the record support a particular exoneration theory; prior and current testing history; evidence searches; and post‑conviction investigation issues.
Assist in drafting other materials in support of litigation strategy, for example cover letters, press statements, consent letters and motions for DNA testing.
Prepare court documents for filing, including editing and proofreading vacatur and post‑conviction relief motions, reviewing citation format for compliance with the Bluebook, copying, collating, and binding documents and exhibits, preparing tables of contents and tables of authorities, reviewing and summarizing court rules.
Conduct legal research using online databases such as Westlaw or Lexis.
Liaise with forensic laboratories, experts, and prisons.
Write and compile parole packets and clemency letters, and gather letters of support from clients' family members, friends and community members.
Work with PCL attorneys and the Social Work team to support clients' re‑entry.
NYU School of Law Clinic
Assist in running a year‑long legal clinic with students from NYU School of Law.
Revise the annual syllabus; organize and lead trainings in partnership with the clinic supervisor.
Identify and schedule new guest speakers.
Submit reimbursements for clinic expenses; organize clinic‑wide events.
Communicate with students on project deadlines, seminar readings and office‑related events.
Summer PCL Legal Internship
Assist in running the 10‑week PCL summer internship with law students from across the country.
Revise and refresh the summer training schedule; organize and lead trainings in partnership with the clinic supervisor; identify and schedule guest speakers.
Submit reimbursements for internship expenses; organize clinic‑wide events.
Communicate with students on project deadlines, readings and office‑related events.
Additional Departmental Duties
Arrange for litigation‑related travel and reimbursement.
Scan and copy documents; prepare hard‑copy resources such as binders.
Travel to meet with incarcerated clients and attend and prepare for parole hearings, evidentiary hearings, retrials and exonerations.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree or Paralegal Certificate plus one year of professional work experience, or the equivalent level of prior legal experience (five years).
Competency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and in‑depth internet research.
Demonstrated ability to learn to use new technological tools.
Strong writing and critical thinking skills.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Key Competencies & Values
Proven experience in problem resolution and perseverance in getting a task completed.
Energetic self‑starter who is highly organized, persistent and detail‑oriented.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, be flexible, prioritize and effectively manage workload, and meet tight deadlines.
Thrives in moments of unpredictability, is flexible, and performs well under pressure.
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest.
Shared commitment to the IP's values of accountability, collaboration, empathy and compassion, equity, person‑centeredness, quality focus, and self‑awareness.
Benefits
The salary for this position is highly competitive, with a range of $33.85 to $38.46 per hour (equivalent to $70,400 to $80,000 annually). The duties are overtime eligible. The position includes fully‑paid individual health, dental and vision insurance; a Flexible Spending Account; a 401(k) plan with 6% company‑match; paid disability and family care leave; adoption and fertility expense reimbursements; and company‑paid transportation benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by law.
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Post‑Conviction Litigation ("PCL") Paralegals provide research assistance, drafting, and administrative support to attorneys pursuing the Innocence Project’s core goals—freeing the innocent. PCL Paralegals are also responsible for general case management, records and data management, being responsive to time‑sensitive litigation‑related requests, and for more generally assisting with the organization and maintenance of various department resources.
PCL Paralegals have an expansive role. In addition to traditional paralegal tasks such as document management, preparation, and filing, they engage in tasks and make decisions that require out‑of‑the‑box thinking and good judgment. For example, they often collaborate with attorneys in the important tasks of engaging and communicating with clients and conducting investigations, and may be asked to work with other IP Departments (such as Communications).
This role, the Paralegal, Post‑conviction Litigation (PCL Clinic), is unique from other PCL paralegal roles in that it reports to one PCL attorney and has additional requirements to support the year‑long legal clinic and summer legal internship. The paralegal works collaboratively with all PCL Department staff and law clinic students, and may be asked to supervise and train interns, students and volunteers.
We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas and we are not an e‑verify employer.
The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours per week and may be performed virtually or in‑office. The current model is hybrid, with all employees in the office three days per week and the remainder of the week remotely. Wednesday is the organization’s "anchor day" where all staff works in the office. The number of required in‑office days is subject to change.
The Ideal Candidate
The Innocence Project seeks an energetic self‑starter who is highly organized and detail‑oriented. They understand how to work in an environment with tight deadlines and are flexible with competing and unpredictable priorities. Despite challenges, they are persistent and thrive under pressure. They have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and are enthusiastic about working directly with law students and supporting legal education. Most importantly, they are passionate about social justice and the mission of the Innocence Project and creating fair and just systems of justice for everyone.
In addition, the ideal candidate models our IP values of accountability, collaboration, empathy and compassion, equity, person‑centeredness, quality focus, and self‑awareness. All Innocence Project employees must embrace, respect and value the rich diversity of perspectives and lived experience of our staff.
Essential Job Functions
Assisting in Case Management and Litigation Strategy
Maintain up‑to‑date and well‑organized electronic records on our case management system, and paper case files and docket sheets.
Communicate daily with incarcerated clients and their family members.
Assist with evidence searches, discovery requests and responses, and preparing public records requests.
Review and accurately synthesize the factual background of cases, including police reports, lab reports, prior motions, trial transcripts and case files.
Develop a working knowledge of DNA testing.
Write memos about discrete fact‑based questions, such as whether case facts in the record support a particular exoneration theory; prior and current testing history; evidence searches; and post‑conviction investigation issues.
Assist in drafting other materials in support of litigation strategy, for example cover letters, press statements, consent letters and motions for DNA testing.
Prepare court documents for filing, including editing and proofreading vacatur and post‑conviction relief motions, reviewing citation format for compliance with the Bluebook, copying, collating, and binding documents and exhibits, preparing tables of contents and tables of authorities, reviewing and summarizing court rules.
Conduct legal research using online databases such as Westlaw or Lexis.
Liaise with forensic laboratories, experts, and prisons.
Write and compile parole packets and clemency letters, and gather letters of support from clients' family members, friends and community members.
Work with PCL attorneys and the Social Work team to support clients' re‑entry.
NYU School of Law Clinic
Assist in running a year‑long legal clinic with students from NYU School of Law.
Revise the annual syllabus; organize and lead trainings in partnership with the clinic supervisor.
Identify and schedule new guest speakers.
Submit reimbursements for clinic expenses; organize clinic‑wide events.
Communicate with students on project deadlines, seminar readings and office‑related events.
Summer PCL Legal Internship
Assist in running the 10‑week PCL summer internship with law students from across the country.
Revise and refresh the summer training schedule; organize and lead trainings in partnership with the clinic supervisor; identify and schedule guest speakers.
Submit reimbursements for internship expenses; organize clinic‑wide events.
Communicate with students on project deadlines, readings and office‑related events.
Additional Departmental Duties
Arrange for litigation‑related travel and reimbursement.
Scan and copy documents; prepare hard‑copy resources such as binders.
Travel to meet with incarcerated clients and attend and prepare for parole hearings, evidentiary hearings, retrials and exonerations.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree or Paralegal Certificate plus one year of professional work experience, or the equivalent level of prior legal experience (five years).
Competency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and in‑depth internet research.
Demonstrated ability to learn to use new technological tools.
Strong writing and critical thinking skills.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Key Competencies & Values
Proven experience in problem resolution and perseverance in getting a task completed.
Energetic self‑starter who is highly organized, persistent and detail‑oriented.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, be flexible, prioritize and effectively manage workload, and meet tight deadlines.
Thrives in moments of unpredictability, is flexible, and performs well under pressure.
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest.
Shared commitment to the IP's values of accountability, collaboration, empathy and compassion, equity, person‑centeredness, quality focus, and self‑awareness.
Benefits
The salary for this position is highly competitive, with a range of $33.85 to $38.46 per hour (equivalent to $70,400 to $80,000 annually). The duties are overtime eligible. The position includes fully‑paid individual health, dental and vision insurance; a Flexible Spending Account; a 401(k) plan with 6% company‑match; paid disability and family care leave; adoption and fertility expense reimbursements; and company‑paid transportation benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by law.
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