Organization: Bay Area Legal Aid’s (BayLegal) mission is to provide high quality legal assistance regardless of a client’s location, language, or disability. We are the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income residents of the San Francisco Bay Area with regional offices in seven counties. Our services include advice, referrals, limited scope assistance, extended representation, public policy and impact advocacy, trainings, and community education. From Napa Valley to Silicon Valley, BayLegal ensures fairness in the civil justice system for the most vulnerable members of our community. We help our clients protect their livelihoods, their health, and their families. BayLegal’s 100+ staff members provide wraparound legal services in housing preservation, domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, economic security, consumer protection, and healthcare access.
Position: BayLegal's San Francisco housing practice is dedicated to protecting the housing rights of low-income tenants in San Francisco. This work includes fighting illegal evictions and housing subsidy terminations, combatting housing discrimination, advocating for safe and healthy living conditions and working to preserve affordable housing. Paralegal support for our attorneys representing clients facing eviction will result in both an increase in the number of clients assisted and the provision of more robust services to the clients we represent.
Key Responsibilities:
• Conduct initial client screening and intake; check conflicts and enter client data in case management system;
• Conduct unit inspections, obtain inspection records and document individual and pervasive habitability problems;
• Assist with settlement conferences and administrative hearings;
• Prepare legal forms, demand letters, reasonable accommodation requests; assist in propounding and responding to discovery;
• Cite check, proofread, format and compile motions and briefs;
• Assist with tracking deadlines, calendaring motions, scheduling court reporters and interpreters;
• Prepare templates for discovery, motions and trial binders;
• Prepare outreach materials;
• Assist with data tracking and grant reporting.
Qualifications:
Paralegal Certificate;'
At least 3 years work experience as paralegal or legal assistant;
Experience working with legal case management software;
Strong research, writing and communication skills;
Ability to multitask and provide support to attorneys in busy, fast-paced practice;
Experience in housing practice helpful
Spanish or Cantonese fluency a plus.
Applications: Bay Area Legal Aid thrives on our diversity and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, persons of color, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply before 10/3/16. Please send cover letter, resume, references, and writing sample to: Jerel McCrary, San Francisco Managing Attorney at [email protected]. Please reference San Francisco Housing Advocate in your application.
Insuring equal justice