Description
Freelance Paralegal – Habeas Petition Assembly (Short-Term Contract)
Location: Remote or DC Metro / Eastern Panhandle WV area
Duration: Approx. 2 weeks (about 40-55 hours total)
Compensation: $55–$65/hour, commensurate with experience
Project Overview
A habeas attorney is seeking a skilled freelance paralegal with at least five years of experience in appellate or habeas work to assist with preparing a habeas corpus petition package. This is a short-term contract focused on document assembly and quality control.
All arguments and legal drafting will be provided. This role does not involve creating new legal arguments or conducting substantive legal research.
Key Responsibilities
Create a comprehensive formatted MS Word document aggregating draft documents: petition, hearing request, facts section, arguments, relief, etc., and return draft document to attorney for final review.
Assemble and label 100+ exhibits (1, 2, 3, ...) into one complete petition package.
Review exhibits to confirm they match the provided references in arguments and identify any missing materials.
Perform light redactions (names) on approximately 20 exhibits. Prepare unredacted exhibits for sealed filing.
Ensure correct pagination, exhibit numbering, and internal consistency.
Conduct basic citation checks for accuracy.
Create a polished PDF filing with bookmarking of all sections and exhibits, cross-argument hyperlinks, and exhibit hyperlinks.
Perform quality control on the final petition package.
Requirements
Candidate Qualifications
5+ years paralegal experience in appeals, habeas petitions, or complex litigation support.
Proficiency in Adobe Acrobat Pro, Nitro Pro (or similar tools) for redactions, bookmarking, and hyperlinking.
Demonstrated ability to manage large volumes of exhibits and assemble court-ready filings.
Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and meet a two-week deadline.
Interested candidates should provide:
A brief description of their relevant paralegal experience, especially in habeas or appellate filings.
An example (redacted if necessary) of a complex filing package they have assembled.
Availability to commit to the two-week timeline.
