Trial Preparation Assistant LV III-Property Release Unit

The Bronx County District Attorney’s Office seeks a well-qualified staff whose diverse backgrounds contribute to serve the 1.4 million members of the Bronx County community and to pursue a safer Bronx through fair justice. The Office currently has one opening for the position of Trial Preparation Assistant, Level 3, in its Civil Litigation Bureau. The successful candidate in this position will possess paralegal experience to assist the bureau’s Property Release Unit in responding to requests made by the public for the return of property that has been seized at arrest and vouchered by the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”).

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Engage in communications with parties requesting the release of property.
- Contact the Assistant District Attorney (“ADA”) assigned to the case or investigation to determine whether the property may be released and under what circumstances.
- Review vouchers and other paperwork to ensure compliance with applicable law.
- Prepare property release forms, exercising judgment as to circumstances under which property may be released.
- Using applicable computer programs, monitor incoming requests and status of existing requests and follow-up on requests as necessary.
- Ensure compliance with legal standards and existing court orders regarding timely responses to property release.
- Provide support and assistance to other professional and legal staff members as necessary.
- Use advanced features of Adobe Acrobat to merge and separate PDF files, as well as mark and apply redactions as necessary.
- All other duties as assigned.


QUALIFICATIONS:

- A bachelor’s degree, or a high school diploma with four years of work experience in a law firm, governmental agency, or non-profit organization is required. Experience as a paralegal is preferred.
- Must be able to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat.
- Excellent time management skills.
- Strong desire and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and communicate effectively with colleagues throughout the Office.
- Familiarity with general court services.
- Ability to work independently and effectively under deadlines.

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

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.