Paralegal

Join Michigan’s State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) as a Paralegal. SADO represents individuals in Michigan on appeal of their felony convictions and SADO’s Juvenile Lifer Unit represents individuals who received life without parole sentences as children and who, decades later, are entitled to resentencing. We focus on our clients as people and actively work to challenge injustices and disparities in the criminal legal system based on race, class, ability, behavioral health, and other identifying characteristics and statuses. The position pays from $49,443 to $71,472, depending on experience and SADO’s pay schedule, and begins in October. Our office follows a hybrid workplace model that mixes in-office and remote work to offer flexibility and support to staff. This position is for either the Detroit or Lansing office.

Job Responsibilities
Paralegals are an integral part of the defense team, supporting the work of all team members in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:
• Request and obtain case records, including through FOIA and discovery requests, and prepare summaries of case documents, records, and videos
• Prepare and file legal documents
• Compose and mail correspondence to courts, clients, and others
• Communicate with clients and families about case status under direction of attorney
• Understand the relevant court rules and comply with those rules for all legal filings
• Prepare exhibit and appendix binders electronically and in paper format
• Assist attorneys and teams with client interviews or status check-ins as requested
• Schedule and track hearings, meetings, client visits, and other case events and data through LegalServer and through SADO’s Administrative Office
• Draft boilerplate motions, such as motions for extension or motions for immediate consideration
• Proofread correspondence and legal filings
• Prepare expert witness funding requests and follow through with counties for payment to expert witnesses