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Posted August 07, 2026

Legal Assistant- Criminal Defense

Knauss Law
Kirkland, WA, US Full Time
58000USD - 68000USD per year

Job Description

Job Description

Our criminal defense firm helps good people get a second chance. We defend clients accused of crimes, and we help people who have served their sentence vacate old convictions and restore their firearm rights. You will see the results of your work in real people's lives.

We're looking for a legal assistant to keep this practice running on time. This is not a research role. It is a precision and production role. You will produce form-based documents for our criminal defense practice, obtain and assemble case documents from courts and agencies across multiple counties, and manage the firm's master calendar. In this work, the paperwork and the deadlines are the whole ballgame, and you will own both.

What you'll do

  • Manage the production of our post-conviction cases
  • Manage the firm's master calendar, including hearings, deadlines, and filing requirements, and keep the attorneys ahead of every date
  • Serve as the first point of contact for new and existing clients by phone, email, and in person
  • Produce form-based documents for our criminal defense practice, accurately and on time
  • Request discovery and support litigation in our criminal cases
  • Request, track, and assemble criminal history records, certified dispositions, and court documents
  • Open new case files in the case management system
  • Maintain the client database and intake tracking
  • Log incoming evidence, documents, and outgoing correspondence in each case file

How we work

We are a small firm, and everyone here does whatever the case needs. Some days that means covering the phones, running to the courthouse, or fixing the printer. If you need a rigid job description to feel comfortable, this isn't the place. If you take pride in being the person who handles it, it is.

We value accountability, not to cast blame but to get better. When something goes wrong, we fix the system that let it happen. If you own your mistakes and want to work somewhere that treats them as information instead of ammunition, you'll fit in.

One more thing: we have a no jerks policy. Internally we use a stronger word for it. It applies to clients and team members alike, and we decline clients who mistreat our staff.

Who does well here

You are organized to a fault and nothing falls off your calendar. You have at least a year of experience as a legal assistant or in another high-volume, deadline-driven support role. Candidates from immigration, family law, medical records, or similar production-heavy environments do well in this work. You exercise good judgment with confidential information, and you can be calm and kind with clients who are under real stress.

What we offer

  • $58,000 to $68,000 depending on experience, with a defined compensation review at 90 days
  • Health insurance
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Paid time off
  • A role where your work directly helps people move on with their lives, and room to grow as the firm grows

Monday to Friday, day shift, in person at our Kirkland office (98033). Reliable commute or planned relocation required before start.

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