Title: Mitigation/Investigation Paralegal Fellow - Arlington

State Role Title: Investig and Legal Support I

Hiring Range: $58,519.00 + Local Salary Supplement + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: ARLINGTON 322

Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org

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 Defender’s Office is now accepting applications for the position of Mitigation/Investigation Paralegal Fellow. This position is funded for one year. This is a temporary full-time position that will last one year from the successful candidate’s start date, based on available funding. The qualified candidate will provide support for attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists in the Public Defender’s office. The Paralegal Fellow position reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Arlington Office and is employed at will. In addition to the listed salary, there is a 15% local salary supplement. However, this supplement is discretionary, subject to yearly approval by Arlington County, and income from it does not affect retirement benefits.

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.

Duties:
● Interview potential witnesses for all stages of a case, from fact witnesses to mitigation witnesses.
● Draft memoranda in support of plea negotiations and/or sentencing recommendations.
● Collect and analyze clients’ records.
● Communicate with clients, clients’ support network and witnesses.
● Assist attorneys in preparing cases for trial and sentencing.
● Coordinate expert evaluations by requesting records and communicating with clinicians.
● Maintain a 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.
● Support clients to achieve compliance with court obligations prior to court hearings.
● Monitor progress of clients who are incompetent to stand trial and their status in hospitalization and restoration.
● Coordinate clients’ release and/or re-entry plans and support entry into services.
● Other duties as assigned.

The IDC is 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.
● Ability to perform legal and social science research.
● Ability to synthetize and write complex research memoranda.
● Diligence and attention to detail.
● Embraces work in a challenging and fast-paced environment and navigating difficult and complex subject matters.
● Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a team.
● Ability to manage a large caseload with a wide variety of tasks and regular deadlines.
● Proactive ability to work independently with limited supervision.
● A valid operator’s 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 languages.

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: 804-662-7249

Email: recruiting@vadefenders.org

In support of the Commonwealth’s 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 800-552-5019.

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.