Job Details for Paralegal
| Court Name/Organization | South Carolina Federal Public Defender |
| Location | Charleston, SC |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 03/16/2026 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade | JSP 11 - JSP 14 |
| Salary | $74,678 - $163,514 |
| Announcement Number | 26-03 |
Position Description
Trial and discovery paralegal. Paralegals provide a full range of paralegal services and litigation support to staff attorneys. General duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- All aspects of case preparation and file management
- Providing case support and analysis at varying stages of litigation
- Legal drafting, including preparation of trial pleadings and sentencing mitigation materials, drafted effectively and with attention to detail
- Reviewing and analyzing discovery and case documents
- Gathering and maintaining records
- Organizing and maintaining voluminous discovery and electronically stored information (ESI) using a range of formats and platforms
- Use of litigation support technology in the organization, analysis, and preparation of cases
- Assisting with hiring and working with experts, and maintaining a database of experts
- Interviewing and maintaining regular communication with clients and assisting clients with ancillary matters
- Preparing demonstrative evidence and exhibits for pleadings and court proceedings
- Assisting attorneys at hearings, trials and sentencings using Power Point and/or trial presentation software
- Assisting trial team utilizing litigation support tools
- Answering phones, preparing correspondence, calendaring
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s Degree, Associate’s degree, or a Paralegal Certificate from an accredited school
- Minimum of two years of specialized paralegal experience and three years of general experience
- A working knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures
- Multitasking and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks
- Computer proficiency, including a working knowledge of Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office Suite
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. The ability to work within a team and maintain a friendly, open demeanor during periods of increased demand
- Experience with document management or litigation support databases, such as Summation, Trial Director, DTSearch, Eclipse, Searchlight, PowerPoint, CaseMap, or the demonstrated capability of learning these programs
Applicants must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance.
Appointment is subject to a satisfactory background investigation.
Employee Benefits
- 11 paid holidays
- Possible Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Federal Employees Retirement System
- Thrift Savings Plan
- Health insurance (100+ options)
- Dental insurance (16 options)
- Vision insurance (10 options)
- Life insurance
- Flex Spending Accounts
- Commuter Benefit Program
- Long term- & short-term disability
- Long-term care
- Transportation subsidy
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick leave
- Annual leave
- Nationwide leave transfer program
- Worker’s comp
- Disability retirement
- Family and medical leave
- 12-weeks paid parental leave
Miscellaneous
Trial and discovery paralegal. Paralegals provide a full range of paralegal services and litigation support to staff attorneys. General duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- All aspects of case preparation and file management
- Providing case support and analysis at varying stages of litigation
- Legal drafting, including preparation of trial pleadings and sentencing mitigation materials, drafted effectively and with attention to detail
- Reviewing and analyzing discovery and case documents
- Gathering and maintaining records
- Organizing and maintaining voluminous discovery and electronically stored information (ESI) using a range of formats and platforms
- Use of litigation support technology in the organization, analysis, and preparation of cases
- Assisting with hiring and working with experts, and maintaining a database of experts
- Interviewing and maintaining regular communication with clients and assisting clients with ancillary matters
- Preparing demonstrative evidence and exhibits for pleadings and court proceedings
- Assisting attorneys at hearings, trials and sentencings using Power Point and/or trial presentation software
- Assisting trial team utilizing litigation support tools
- Answering phones, preparing correspondence, calendaring
Application Info
No telephone calls please. Qualified applicants may apply by submitting one PDF, which includes a letter of interest outlining experience, a resume, a work reference and, at the applicant’s option, a writing sample in one PDF format to Jonathan_freeman@fd.org.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.