Korey Wise Innocence Project Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Requisition Number:
64125
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
University Staff
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
19-May-2025
Date Posted:
05-May-2025
Job Summary
The Korey Wise Innocence Project (KWIP) is a program of the University of Colorado Law School dedicated to fighting wrongful convictions and advocating for systemic change. Our mission has three core objectives:
- Identifying and freeing innocent individuals incarcerated in Colorado prisons.
- Advancing policy reforms to prevent wrongful convictions.
- Educating communities about the causes and consequences of wrongful convictions.
We are seeking a dedicated and highly organized Legal Assistant/Paralegal to support both our intake process and legal casework. This individual will play a vital role in ensuring that KWIP’s work remains responsive, efficient, and impactful.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
At Colorado Law, we are an engaged and inclusive community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who help one another succeed. Our selective admissions process keeps our student body small, enabling our faculty, staff, alumni, and community to invest deeply in each student’s success. Because we take our responsibility to educate and train future lawyers very seriously, our curriculum, research centers, and experiential learning opportunities are crafted to prepare students for success in today’s changing legal environment.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Intake & Case Management:
- Assist in overseeing KWIP’s intake process, ensuring timely and appropriate responses to letters, emails, and phone calls from incarcerated individuals and community members.
- Train and supervise undergraduate interns who manage intake correspondence.
- Ensure applications are sent to the appropriate individuals and properly processed when returned.
- Screen applications to determine if they meet KWIP’s basic criteria for review.
- Create and maintain organized case files for all applicants.
- Maintain the Salesforce database, ensuring all files are accurate and up-to-date.
- Ensure applicants who were denied at any stage of the intake process receive a written denial in a timely manner.
- Manage timelines to make sure cases are continuously moving through each stage of the application processes.
Paralegal & Legal Support:
- Assist KWIP’s DOJ grant attorneys in identifying and reviewing potential wrongful conviction cases, including those flagged by the Justice Review Project and hair microscopy analysis lists.
- Work with law students to organize and maintain case files.
- Obtain and review discovery materials, including police reports, trial transcripts, and forensic evidence.
- Coordinate with expert witnesses and legal professionals to support ongoing case investigations.
- Maintain communication with clients and their families regarding case developments.
What You Should Know
- This position is funded for three years, with the possibility of funding being extended.
- This role will work in a hybrid work modality. The position will work Monday – Friday during regular business hours, though the role may need to meet outside of regular work hours at times.
What We Can Offer
The annual salary for this full-time position is $57,100 - $60,000.
Benefits
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.
Be Statements
Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- A paralegal certificate obtained through either an American Bar Association (ABA)-approved paralegal studies program or an accredited institution.
- Substitution: Two (2) years of work experience in a paralegal capacity, which included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents, and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources, will substitute for the required certificate.
What You Will Need
- Passionate About Justice— committed to fighting wrongful convictions and believe in the power of legal advocacy to change lives.
- Highly Organized & Detail-Oriented— effectively manage high volumes of information and maintain accurate records.
- Strong Communicator— excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially when working with incarcerated individuals, legal professionals, and members of the community.
- Compassionate & Professional– approach sensitive legal cases with empathy, integrity, and discretion.
- Resourceful & Proactive— work independently, problem-solve, and take initiative in a fast-paced legal setting. Strong proficiency in legal databases, case management software, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Associate's or Bachelor’s degree.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in case management, legal research, or paralegal work.
- Experience in criminal defense, post-conviction law, or innocence work.
- Familiarity with wrongful conviction cases, forensic evidence, and discovery review.
- Spanish language proficiency.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by 5/19/2025 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu