Reentry Paralegal Fellow Arlington

Title: Reentry Paralegal Fellow - Arlington

State Role Title:Investig and Legal Support I

Hiring Range: up to $73000.00 State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location:ARLINGTON 322

Agency Website:

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) a Commonwealth of Virginia Independent Agency is dedicated to protecting and defending the rights of our clients through zealous compassionate high-quality legal advocacy. The Arlington Public Defenders Office is now accepting applications for the position of Paralegal Fellow. The qualified candidate will provide support for attorneys investigators and mitigation specialists in the Public Defenders office. This position is funded for one year. This is a temporary full-time position that will last one year from the successful candidates start date projected to run from December 2025 to December 2026 based on available funding. The Paralegal Fellow position reports to the Public Defender of the Arlington Office and is employed at will.

Duties:
The Office of the Public Defender for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church maintains a zealous client-centered practice with a caseload that consists of many clients with mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses. Our Paralegal Fellow plays a critical role in serving our clientele and producing information and data in support of our mission both pretrial and at sentencing. For these reasons in addition to traditional paralegal tasks this position may participate in fact investigation of alleged criminal conduct investigation of mitigation witnesses and evidence and sentencing advocacy. Specific tasks may include:
Interview potential witnesses for all stages of a case from fact witnesses to mitigation witnesses.
Collect and analyze clients records.
Coordinate clients release and/or re-entry plans and support entry into services.
Communicate with clients clients support network and witnesses.
Assist with sentencing advocacy and mitigation investigation as needed by interviewing requesting records and writing memorandums.
Maintain database of re-entry and social-behavioral resources for clients.
Develop relationships with service providers and county stakeholders (e.g. treatment programs permanent supportive housing homeless services vocational programs resources for juveniles etc.).
Assist attorneys with review of Body Worn Camera and other video and audio evidence.
Assist attorneys in retrieving reviewing and analyzing discovery.
Coordinate expert evaluations by requesting records and communicating with clinicians.
Support clients to achieve compliance with court obligations prior to court hearings.
Assist attorneys in preparing cases for trial and sentencing.
Monitor progress of clients who are incompetent to stand trial and their status in hospitalization and restoration.
Other duties as assigned.

TheIDCis committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities cultures backgrounds and experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

A demonstrated commitment to equal justice and public service is essential.
Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to organize analyze and summarize complex information.
Embraces work in a challenging and fast-paced environment and navigating difficult and complex subject matters.
Diligence and attention to detail.
Ability to manage a large caseload with a wide variety of tasks and regular deadlines.
Ability to perform legal and social science research.
Proactive ability to work independently with limited supervision.
A valid operators license and transportation.

Additional Considerations

Experience working with individuals suffering from serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
Knowledge of the criminal legal system.
Skills or experience interviewing fact mitigation and sentencing witnesses.
Training or education in forensic psychology or social work.
Fluency in Spanish or other language.

Special Instructions

Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position. While creating an account through the state system will save your basic information (please remember your username and password) applications are NOT saved for future openings. We encourage you to apply to any and all of the positions you may be considering within the IDC.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship.

Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed emailed faxed or hand-delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. IDC does not accept see resume as a response to any question. Information on the application is the primary source used for screening the position. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested during the application and/or interview process.

This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan.

Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry into the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates.

Contact Information

Name: Ashley Washington

Phone:

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at .

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022- February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.