Paralegal

Overview

The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney is responsible for prosecuting those charged with violating the criminal laws of Virginia in Virginia Beach. This is a grant-funded part-time position seeking a paralegal to work on cases specifically with weapons offenses. The selected candidate will work no more than 29 hours per week.

• Preparing correspondence and legal papers
• Performing research as necessary; drafting legal documents and court orders at the request of an attorney or on own initiative
• Creating indictments and jury instructions; preparing electronic discovery
• Assisting attorneys in case preparation and trials; updating database to reflect correct and current docket information
• Acting as a liaison with witnesses and government agencies (e.g., Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Probation & Parole, Clerk’s Offices, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Attorney General)
• Assisting with the review of body-worn camera videos; performing audio/visual editing and red actions
• Utilizing multimedia equipment
• Adhering to deadlines; working independently and as a team
• Performing clerical duties to include answering telephone and email inquiries; handling criminal work and some civil work

In order to be a successful candidate in this position, you must be able to manage multiple tasks, organize detailed information, and understand and follow complex instructions. Paralegals will actively assist attorneys to prepare for court hearings. Paralegals are responsible for drafting discovery for cases in each court; this can include drafting the detailed response, redacting specific information, and sending it electronically.

We also desire candidates who are self-motivated, detail-oriented, work well under pressure and meet deadlines. The candidates must be able to work independently and as part of a team. Lastly, the selected candidates should be able to sit and operate a computer terminal for up to 6 hours each day.

• Professional experience as a Paralegal or Legal Assistant
• Professional experience with Virginia criminal law
• Experience working in a Commonwealth's Attorney office
• Experience drafting complex legal documents; including pleadings, motions, and orders
• Experience preparing and sending discovery responses, including e-discovery
• Experience supporting attorneys in court and/or with trial preparation
• Experience with updating databases with case updates, such as new court dates and case dispositions
• Experience working with body-worn camera and digital evidence

This position is an at-will position serving at the pleasure of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For additional information and to apply for this position please visit virginiabeach.gov.