Legal Administrative Associate

ABOUT US

The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP) is a 501(c)(3) organization that works to prevent and correct the conviction of innocent people in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. MAIP has one of the highest success rates in the country for exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted, helping to secure the release or exoneration of 44 men who spent more than 889 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. MAIP has also helped pass 19 laws that would prevent, or make it easier to correct, wrongful convictions.

ABOUT THE POSITION

MAIP’s Legal Administrative Associate will oversee and perform a wide variety of administrative functions for the Legal Department, with a particular focus on providing support to the Intake and Screening Team, and will be an integral part of achieving the organization’s mission through the smooth execution of critical administrative tasks. They report primarily to the Intake and Screening Manager. This is not a remote position. The position’s schedule is flexible and can be negotiated, but your core functions will take place in our offices in downtown Washington, D.C.

ABOUT YOU

You are detail-oriented and obsessive about accuracy but also patient and empathetic. You are comfortable interacting with spreadsheets and people from a diversity of backgrounds. You take initiative and can multi-task and work in a fun, exciting environment with multiple priorities. You are a motivated team player with superb organizational and communication skills. You are committed to delivering the highest quality of customer service and work product. You are passionate about the work and are enthusiastic about organization, systems, and processes.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Check and triage incoming mail from clients, family, and members of the community.
• Respond to mail where appropriate.
• Check and respond to voicemail messages pertinent to the Legal Department.
• Promptly provide mail, discovery, and messages to relevant attorneys.
• Assist in the creation of new matters, both digitally and physically.
• Send client correspondence at appropriate case milestones.
• Scan incoming client correspondence and discovery into the corresponding digital files.
• Maintain the organization of both physical and digital files.
• Oversee the digitization of files received from all outside agencies, including managing and scheduling volunteers to assist with scanning.
• Oversee the case-closure procedure, which includes archiving the file and returning documents to the client.
• Timely annotation of all actions taken on cases in our case-management system.
• Assist the Screening Manager with other administrative tasks as necessary to facilitate the intake and screening of new clients.
• Assist the Legal Department with administrative tasks as bandwidth allows.

ORGANIZATION AND TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend and be prepared for weekly staff meetings and other team meetings.
• Promptly acknowledge and respond to requests from team members.
• Attend and participate in MAIP events and fundraising/development activities.
• Be a team player who is engaged in and passionate about our mission.
• Treat colleagues, students, and volunteers with respect, courtesy, and kindness.
• Other MAIP duties, as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Previous experience with office administration preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. High School graduate with significant work experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience working as part of a team.
• Technological savvy/demonstrated ability to learn new systems and case management platforms.
• Understanding of Microsoft Word and Excel. Understanding of Google Docs and Sheets.
• You must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and be able to provide proof.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Ability to work independently while also being able to collaborate effectively.
• Great interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Honed organizational skills, problem solving, and the ability to prioritize tasks.
• Enthusiasm for social justice and the work of MAIP, including a commitment to public interest.

Salary: $30,000 per year (based on 20 hours per week)

Benefits: Metrochek participation, generous leave and vacation policies (plus federal holidays and the week between December 25 and January 1), retirement plan with match, and a flexible, family-friendly environment.

Please send your resume and cover letter to: jobs@exonerate.org with the subject line “Legal Admin” no later than Friday, April 25, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls, please.

The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project considers the diversity of its workforce to be vital to our organization’s success in meeting its mission. We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply.