POSITION

PLA seeks to immediately hire a bilingual (English and Spanish) full time paralegal for its General Intake Unit. The unit currently consists of two (2) paralegals and a Supervising Attorney. The primary focus of the position is to conduct face to face and telephone interviews with prospective clients during which a determination of financial eligibility and the identification of the legal problem(s) are made. Paralegals complete referrals to pro bono agencies and provide advice and brief services under the supervision of an attorney. The ideal candidate will possess excellent knowledge of PLA practice areas and knowledge of other community resources for appropriate referrals. There is intensive in-house training and close supervision will be provided.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under supervision of an attorney, triage calls, evaluate the merit of cases, explain legal concepts to clients, and prepare correspondence and documents to assist in the representation of clients;
• Interview applicants and clients by phone to determine eligibility, issue spot, ascertain and investigate relevant facts, and conduct research;
• Create and maintain case files in PLAs case management system, complete administrative tasks including, but not limited to, entering notes and time into the system;
• Manage a caseload by taking prompt action on assigned cases;
• Organize information and use technical resources so that information necessary to assist applicants and clients is easy to access and can be transferred to other staff for extended representation;
• Participate in PLA efforts to achieve office and program goals;
• Develop knowledge of relevant law and community referral resources through training, CLE, and other educational opportunities;
• Ensure that requirements of grants and contracts which provide funding for PLA are met and assist with grant reports as needed;
• Abide by all professional and ethical standards of excellence; and
• Perform other duties as assigned or necessary for the effective operation of the office.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A college degree (2 year or 4 year) is preferred.
• Ability to speak, read, and write Spanish is required.
• Strong communication and interviewing skills.
• Ability to interact and communicate calmly with people.
• Ability to analyze complex factual scenarios and, after training, identify the legal problem.
• A commitment to improving the well-being of low-income communities.
• Maturity, self-motivation, and ability to adapt quickly.
• Prior work or volunteer experience at a non-profit serving low-income clients is preferred.
• Strong writing and problem-solving skills.
• Strong customer service skills.