Experienced Criminal Defense Paralegal
A Hiring Company, Phoenix, AZ, United States
Grand Canyon Law Group is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Criminal Defense Paralegal to join our Mesa-based team. This role is ideal for someone who already understands the pace, pressure, and demands of criminal defense and can confidently support attorneys handling both felony and misdemeanor matters.
The ideal candidate will be able to review and summarize discovery, including body camera footage, identify missing items of disclosure, maintain strong client relationships, and assist attorneys with case preparation from start to finish. This role requires someone who is highly organized, adaptable, proactive with follow‑up, and comfortable with heavy client communication in a fast‑paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Review, organize, and summarize criminal case discovery, including police reports, body camera footage, dash camera footage, audio, photos, lab results, and supplemental reports
Identify missing, incomplete, or outstanding items of disclosure and follow up as needed
Draft and prepare legal documents under attorney supervision, including:
Notices of Appearance
Requests for Discovery
Motions to Compel
Motions to Modify Release Conditions
Settlement memoranda
Sentencing memoranda
Assist attorneys with felony case preparation and misdemeanor case management
Prepare case summaries, timelines, and status updates for attorney review
Communicate with clients in a professional, timely, and compassionate manner by phone, email, and text
Build trust and maintain strong working relationships with clients throughout the life of the case
Maintain accurate, organized, and up‑to‑date case files and records
Calendar court dates, deadlines, and follow‑up tasks accurately
Coordinate with attorneys, courts, prosecutors, clients, and staff to keep cases progressing efficiently
Prioritize assignments, adapt to changes, and follow through on outstanding items without constant oversight
Track time accurately and meet productivity expectations
Performance Expectations
Track a minimum of 6 hours per workday
Meet an annual productivity goal of 1,440 hours
Maintain strong calendaring accuracy
Complete work with urgency, accuracy, and attention to detail
Requirements
Certificate of completion from an accredited paralegal program
Minimum of 2 years of experience in criminal law in Arizona
Felony criminal case experience required
Misdemeanor criminal case experience preferred
Strong experience reviewing and summarizing criminal discovery
Ability to identify missing disclosure and elevate issues appropriately
Experience drafting criminal defense pleadings and related case documents
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment
Ability to build relationships with clients and manage heavy client communication with professionalism and empathy
Ability to adapt to change, prioritize effectively, and consistently follow up on outstanding items
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace
Experience with legal case management systems
Clio experience is a plus
Working knowledge of criminal case procedures and filing practices in Maricopa County required
Experience in Arizona Justice Courts required
Experience in Coconino County, Yavapai County, and Pinal County preferred
Bilingual Spanish/English candidates are strongly preferred
Compensation
30-35 Hourly Wage
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The ideal candidate will be able to review and summarize discovery, including body camera footage, identify missing items of disclosure, maintain strong client relationships, and assist attorneys with case preparation from start to finish. This role requires someone who is highly organized, adaptable, proactive with follow‑up, and comfortable with heavy client communication in a fast‑paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Review, organize, and summarize criminal case discovery, including police reports, body camera footage, dash camera footage, audio, photos, lab results, and supplemental reports
Identify missing, incomplete, or outstanding items of disclosure and follow up as needed
Draft and prepare legal documents under attorney supervision, including:
Notices of Appearance
Requests for Discovery
Motions to Compel
Motions to Modify Release Conditions
Settlement memoranda
Sentencing memoranda
Assist attorneys with felony case preparation and misdemeanor case management
Prepare case summaries, timelines, and status updates for attorney review
Communicate with clients in a professional, timely, and compassionate manner by phone, email, and text
Build trust and maintain strong working relationships with clients throughout the life of the case
Maintain accurate, organized, and up‑to‑date case files and records
Calendar court dates, deadlines, and follow‑up tasks accurately
Coordinate with attorneys, courts, prosecutors, clients, and staff to keep cases progressing efficiently
Prioritize assignments, adapt to changes, and follow through on outstanding items without constant oversight
Track time accurately and meet productivity expectations
Performance Expectations
Track a minimum of 6 hours per workday
Meet an annual productivity goal of 1,440 hours
Maintain strong calendaring accuracy
Complete work with urgency, accuracy, and attention to detail
Requirements
Certificate of completion from an accredited paralegal program
Minimum of 2 years of experience in criminal law in Arizona
Felony criminal case experience required
Misdemeanor criminal case experience preferred
Strong experience reviewing and summarizing criminal discovery
Ability to identify missing disclosure and elevate issues appropriately
Experience drafting criminal defense pleadings and related case documents
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment
Ability to build relationships with clients and manage heavy client communication with professionalism and empathy
Ability to adapt to change, prioritize effectively, and consistently follow up on outstanding items
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace
Experience with legal case management systems
Clio experience is a plus
Working knowledge of criminal case procedures and filing practices in Maricopa County required
Experience in Arizona Justice Courts required
Experience in Coconino County, Yavapai County, and Pinal County preferred
Bilingual Spanish/English candidates are strongly preferred
Compensation
30-35 Hourly Wage
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