Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Job Summary
We are seeking a part-time entry-level legal assistant with the potential to transition into a full time paralegal role as the position develops. The successful candidate will join a staff of three attorneys and two paralegals in a busy practice that exclusively represents people who have been charged with crimes in Western Wisconsin. This is an entry level legal assistant position, that for hte right candidate, we hope will eventually develop into a fulltime professional paralegal role. We will be taking applications until the end of April and scheduling interviews in early May.

Responsibilities

• Basic office administrative tasks like answering the phone, intaking new clients, and preparing standardized forms for our attorneys.
• Case management, calendaring and organization of paper files and electronic files in Clio.
• Interview clients and friendly witnesses and prepare accurate summaries of interviews for our attorneys.
• Depending on training and skillset, conduct legal research, draft pleadings, basic motions, and assist with more advanced written documents.
• Assist with researching and investigating unknown or contested facts for our attorneys.
• Prepare sentencing and mitigation packets incuding managing our mitigation software and soliciting letters of support.
• Meet, update, answer questions, and discuss common issues with our clients, including at our office, at the courthouse, and in the La Crosse County Jail.
• Review and summarize evidence for our attorneys including police reports, squad car and body cameras, electronic evidence (oftentimes phone or social media returns), and witness interviews.
• Accurately transcribe interviews for our attorneys.
• Help our attorneys to prepare for court including preparing trial binders, electronic exhibits and photographs to admit in hearings and at trial.
• Assist our attorneys in court during contested hearings.
• Manage routine casework and client questions under the supervision of our attorneys.

Experience and Desired Attributes

• Education or experience in the legal profession is a plus, but not required. We will train the right candidate.
• Mature judgment and a commitment to strict confidentiality.
• Basic computer skills are required. Our office uses standard Microsoft Office and Google tools for many tasks, and Clio for practice management. We utilize Westlaw and Fastcase for legal research.
• An ability to communicate patiently and compassionately with people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, including people in crisis.
• Candidates fluent in Spanish or Hmong will receive special consideration.
• Since the position requires access to secure correctional facilities and may require occasional testimony in court, we require a criminal background check.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range reflects that this is an entry-level position with the expectation that our office will invest significant time training the successful candidate. Part-time employees are eligible to participate in our retirement plan with employer matching and paid downtown parking. Should the position evolve into a full time professional paralegal, the role will come with increased compensation and health benefits.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Free parking
• Retirement plan

Ability to Commute:

• La Crosse, WI 54601 (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• La Crosse, WI 54601: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $19