Experienced Criminal Defense Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Grand Canyon Law Group is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Criminal Defense Paralegal to join our Mesa-based team. This role is ideal for someone who already understands the pace, pressure, and demands of criminal defense and can confidently support attorneys handling both felony and misdemeanor matters.

The ideal candidate will be able to review and summarize discovery, including body camera footage, identify missing items of disclosure, maintain strong client relationships, and assist attorneys with case preparation from start to finish. This role requires someone who is highly organized, adaptable, proactive with follow-up, and comfortable with heavy client communication in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, organize, and summarize criminal case discovery, including police reports, body camera footage, dash camera footage, audio, photos, lab results, and supplemental reports
• Identify missing, incomplete, or outstanding items of disclosure and follow up as needed
• Draft and prepare legal documents under attorney supervision, including:
  • Notices of Appearance
  • Requests for Discovery
  • Motions to Compel
  • Motions to Modify Release Conditions
  • settlement memoranda
  • sentencing memoranda
• Assist attorneys with felony case preparation and misdemeanor case management
• Prepare case summaries, timelines, and status updates for attorney review
• Communicate with clients in a professional, timely, and compassionate manner by phone, email, and text
• Build trust and maintain strong working relationships with clients throughout the life of the case
• Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date case files and records
• Calendar court dates, deadlines, and follow-up tasks accurately
• Coordinate with attorneys, courts, prosecutors, clients, and staff to keep cases progressing efficiently
• Prioritize assignments, adapt to changes, and follow through on outstanding items without constant oversight
• Track time accurately and meet productivity expectations

Performance Expectations

• Track a minimum of 6 hours per workday
• Meet an annual productivity goal of 1,440 hours
• Maintain strong calendaring accuracy
• Complete work with urgency, accuracy, and attention to detail

Requirements:

• Certificate of completion from an accredited paralegal program
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in criminal law in Arizona
• Felony criminal case experience required
• Misdemeanor criminal case experience preferred
• Strong experience reviewing and summarizing criminal discovery
• Ability to identify missing disclosure and escalate issues appropriately
• Experience drafting criminal defense pleadings and related case documents
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment
• Ability to build relationships with clients and manage heavy client communication with professionalism and empathy
• Ability to adapt to change, prioritize effectively, and consistently follow up on outstanding items
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace
• Experience with legal case management systems
• Clio experience is a plus
• Working knowledge of criminal case procedures and filing practices in Maricopa County required
• Experience in Arizona Justice Courts required
• Experience in Coconino County, Yavapai County, and Pinal County preferred
• Bilingual Spanish/English candidates are strongly preferred