Family Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Family Paralegal (LAV)

Classification: Non-Exempt Professional eligible for Collective Bargaining Unit membership

Reports to: Unit Supervising Attorney

Summary of Responsibilities:

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Staff Paralegal will work primarily with our LAV-eligible clients and will screen individuals and families for services, provide follow-up services and referrals as needed. The Family Unit Staff Paralegal will work primarily under a grant serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Staff Paralegal will provide trauma informed assistance to clients and provide appropriate referrals to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Essential Functions:

• Manage caseload and assigned tasks, including providing clients with information and advice under attorney supervision.
• Screen clients and complete intake questionnaires when required by office conditions.
• Correspond with case managers from area social service, housing, and medical and mental health service providers to develop evidence and assist clients obtain stability.
• Provide safety planning.
• Coordinate with service providers to ensure that client’s non-legal needs are being met to help support legal goals. Obtain necessary consents for providers and clients to effectuate this task.
• Assist attorneys with file preparation and organization for hearings.
• Assist in the review, organization, and management of legal documents.
• Enter case information into NLS’ case management system, LegalServer.
• Maintain accurate and complete records and files regarding cases and projects assigned.
• Provide direct support and assistance to Family Unit attorneys.
• Maintain accurate and complete records and files regarding assigned cases.
• Participate in community outreach, education, and training efforts.
• Assist attorneys with court filings.

Core Competencies

• Strong personal work ethic and ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines with minimal supervision;
• Excellent writing, editing, and proof‐reading skills, with ability to be detail‐oriented;
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic and multi‐sector team;
• Curious and self‐directed with an ability to anticipate client needs;
• Cultural humility in working with low‐income clients across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio‐economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and limited English proficiency; and
• Familiarity with diverse communities is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Social Work or closely related field;
• Legal services background, or knowledge of general civil legal work;
• Experience working with vulnerable populations and knowledge of community resources; and
• Self-motivated and dependable;
• Excellent communication skills for client intake, client follow-up and attorney interface
• Excellent writing skills with attention to detail and proofreading for correspondence with clients and other law offices
• Understanding of the court filing system and its requirements
• Excellent organizational skills and calendaring awareness
• Document-drafting capability under supervision of staff attorneys for court filings
• Willingness to work as a team member and contribute to the efforts on any case
• Knowledge of trauma-informed principles
• Second language skills.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Work in an office environment including working at workstation, attending meetings;

• Traveling to meetings and hearings off-site;

• Use of computer and other office machines such as fax, photocopiers and telephones; and

• Ability to work in the evenings and weekends as required to serve clients.