Paralegal

The Kings County District Attorney's Office (KCDA) is one of the largest prosecutors' offices in the country and is committed to developing and implementing innovative prosecutorial strategies that will fulfill our vision of keeping Brooklyn safe while at the same time ensuring fairness and justice for all. KCDA has an exciting opportunity to work as a Paralegal.

In light of the sweeping discovery reforms in New York State, our Assistant District Attorneys need more support in preparing their criminal cases. All of our cases involve fairly voluminous discovery, such as police reports, body camera footage, 911 calls, forensic files, security surveillance videos, and more. It is critical to our mission that our prosecutors obtain all the necessary discovery and securely shares the required information with the defense. New hires will assist with these important duties, and in doing so, will gain exposure to virtually every aspect of a criminal case.

Under general supervision, with latitude for independent initiative and judgment, the prospective candidate will perform the following duties

• Receive, review, and assess the contents of felony case files.

• Identify outstanding documents from officers, detectives, and specialized units of the Police Department.

• Request missing discovery such as detective follow-ups, property vouchers, body-worn camera footage, 911 recordings, officer activity logs, surveillance video, and interview recordings. Upload received discovery into case management.

• Maintain a detailed log of discovery ordered and received. Send follow-up requests for outstanding discovery.

• Complete all forms used in the preparation of case folders and review files to ensure that paperwork is in order, and accurately prepare any missing documents.

• Notify officers and detectives for the grand jury. Redact sensitive and personal information upon request.

• Perform other related duties as needed.

Preferred Skills

• Able to work independently, be assertive, highly organized, and detailed-oriented.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel. PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)

• Ability to Multi-task and exercise sound judgment.

• Strong attention to detail is essential.

• Applicants should possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and will be required to provide a spontaneous writing sample.

• The ability to be assertive and tactful in dealing with police personnel and civilian crime victims is essential.

• Organizational, time-management, including the ability to take initiative, prioritize duties and work both independently and within a team environment is a plus.

• Bi-lingual ability in Spanish is helpful.

Additional Information

Candidates must meet the additional requirements:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or;

• An associate degree and two to four years of full-time satisfactory work experience in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or

• A Paralegal Certification from a program approved by the American Bar Association.

Employees of the City of New York may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to all qualifying public service employees.

Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

Minimum Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

1.High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or

2.Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.