Managing Criminal Defense Paralegal (Remote)

Overview

This role involves managing and providing hands-on support for a Criminal Defense legal support team. The position requires substantial federal criminal defense experience and prior management experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the Criminal Defense paralegal and support staff team, including workflow, assignments, priorities, performance, and deadlines.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, mentoring, and accountability to Criminal Defense support staff.
• Provide hands-on paralegal support to attorneys handling complex federal and other criminal defense matters.
• Manage criminal cases throughout the litigation lifecycle, from intake and investigation through hearings, trial preparation, sentencing, and post-trial matters.
• Draft, review, and prepare motions, pleadings, correspondence, subpoenas, discovery-related documents, and other legal filings.
• Prepare and electronically file documents in federal courts while ensuring compliance with applicable rules, procedures, and deadlines.
• Coordinate and manage discovery, including reviewing, organizing, summarizing, and maintaining large volumes of records, reports, video, audio, and other evidence.
• Maintain attorney calendars and track court appearances, filing deadlines, hearings, trials, client meetings, and other critical dates.
• Communicate professionally and compassionately with clients and their families regarding case status, documentation, scheduling, and other case-related matters.
• Coordinate with attorneys, investigators, experts, court personnel, government agencies, and other parties as necessary.
• Prepare hearing and trial materials, exhibits, witness files, attorney notebooks, and other litigation support materials.
• Monitor case progress and proactively identify outstanding tasks, approaching deadlines, and potential issues.
• Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date electronic case files.
• Train, mentor, and support Criminal Defense staff while helping establish consistent processes and high standards across the team.
• Accurately record billable time and assist with other case management and administrative responsibilities as needed.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of substantive criminal defense paralegal experience (more extensive experience strongly preferred for this managing-level role).
• Substantive federal criminal defense paralegal experience is required. Candidates without federal criminal defense experience will not be considered.
• Strong knowledge of federal criminal court procedures, electronic filing requirements, discovery, deadlines, and litigation practices.
• Prior management experience is required, including experience directly supervising, leading, mentoring, and providing day-to-day direction to paralegals or legal support staff.
• Strong and stable employment history in permanent paralegal positions, demonstrating sustained responsibility, reliability, professional growth, and commitment to prior employers.
• Candidates whose recent work history consists primarily of contract, temporary, project-based, or short-term assignments will not be considered.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex criminal matters and anticipate attorney and case needs.
• Excellent legal drafting, proofreading, organizational, and case management skills.
• Strong experience managing complex discovery and preparing matters for hearings and trial.
• Ability to prioritize multiple active cases and competing deadlines in a fast-paced remote environment.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, accountability, and client service.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, legal case management systems, federal electronic court filing systems, and related legal technology.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively manage and communicate with a team in a fully remote environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• $31–$43/hour, depending on experience, qualifications, federal criminal defense background, and management experience.
• Employer-supported benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, mental health support, disability and life insurance, and other benefits available to eligible employees.

Location & Schedule

• Fully remote
• Full-time
• Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM Eastern Time
• Candidates must be able to consistently work Eastern Time business hours.
• Washington, DC experience is not required BUT Federal Criminal Defense exerperience is a MUST.