Legal Assistant

Location: Philadelphia, PA (option for partial remote work)

Hours: Full-time

Compensation: Starting at $48,000 commensurate with experience

Mission 

The Atlantic Center for Capital Representation (ACCR) confronts the injustice that leads to death sentences, death by incarceration, and other excessive punishments through direct representation, impact litigation, training and assistance to legal teams. We strive to level the playing field by combating racial and economic inequities in the criminal justice system, exposing prosecutorial and police misconduct, and rectifying ineffective representation. ACCR fills a void created by the lack of adequate funding for poor defendants and provides hope to those who have lost it.

General Job Description

We are seeking a passionate and motivated individual to join the team as the Legal Assistant. The ideal candidate for the position will possess strong organizational and interpersonal skills, proficiency with digital tools, and the ability to manage multiple projects efficiently. Prior experience in a similar role is preferred but we welcome and encourage candidates who are eager to learn and grow with the organization. The Legal Assistant's primary workload will pertain to supporting the litigation team in a paralegal capacity and will report directly to the Staff Attorney. The Legal Assistant will also be responsible for managing some office operations and administrative tasks to ensure effective coordination of the entire team. Currently we are a five person staff with an office in an exciting area of the city.

Roles and Responsibilities

Paralegal Support

• Obtaining legal records such as case files, client records and DOC files

• Proofreading and editing filings and some legal correspondence

• Basic fact and social history investigation

• Participating in witness interviews and writing summaries for case files

• Organizing discovery for direct representation cases

• Preparing for hearings and trials 

• Attending case consultations 

• Participate in continued education/trainings as much as possible

Administrative Duties

• Processing and organizing physical and digital files, including scanning incoming mail and sorting it in GSuite

• Utilization of project management software Monday.com to facilitate team schedules and upkeep basic data entry

• General office space upkeep including keeping the office computer up to date, ensuring key office supplies are maintained (i.e. printer ink and stamps), and general office improvement in partnership with all staff

• Overseeing the general office email address and ensuring new inquiries are forwarded to the appropriate team member and handled in a timely manner

• Circulating relevant materials to the team ahead of meetings and work sessions such as calendar invites, agendas, worksheets, slides, etc. and keeping track of action items at team meetings

• General administrative support and attendance for ACCR’s trainings and annual fundraising event

Staff Wide Expectations

• Commitment to establishing and nurturing a strong organizational culture which embodies anti-oppression values

• Familiarizing with ACCR’s mission, larger strategic vision, and partner organizations

Experience and Qualifications

• A college degree is not required but relevant education or experience is necessary

• Authentic compassion and empathy for the population served

• Willingness to form and maintain working relationships with ACCR clients

• Self-motivation with the ability to work independently and willingness to seek assistance

• Flexibility working between the paralegal and administrative roles

• Effective time management, organization, and project management skills

• Knowledge of general criminal legal terminology and procedures

Digital Tools

Applicants should be prepared to gain familiarity with Microsoft Office 360, GSuite, Zoom, Monday.com, and basic online calendar integrations. ACCR also utilizes but does not require applicants to have any prior experience with Dropbox, Adobe Acrobat, Canva, and Network for Good. The selected applicant would need to become proficient in the systems the organization uses on a regular basis.

Apply

ACCR is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates who are BIPOC, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, persons with disabilities, persons with first-hand experience with incarceration, and other underrepresented backgrounds.

Statistics show that people from structurally marginalized communities are less likely to apply if they feel they do not meet 100% of the requirements. If you have a strong feeling in your gut about this position, no matter who you are, we encourage your application.

Please send a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and a resume to contact@atlanticcenter.org. Include the job title, Legal Assistant, in the subject line. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.