Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. seeks a full-time paralegal to work at our La Crosse Office, 205 5th Avenue South, Suite 300, La Crosse, WI.
The position is available immediately.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Answering telephones and responding to front desk duties such as routing telephone calls, taking messages, referring and directing callers and others to appropriate community resources, and providing accurate information to potential clients, to clients, and to the general public about Legal Action’s services.
• Under the supervision of an attorney, the paralegal will be the initial point of contact for people seeking our firm’s legal help. The paralegal will conduct an intake interview with a potential client to: determine their eligibility for services and document that eligibility; gather and record information about their legal problem; gather and record personal, financial, and demographic information; and check other Legal Action cases and clients to help determine if a conflict exists.
• As assigned, supporting attorneys in their case work, including: clerical duties such as opening and closing case files, electronic and hard-copy case file maintenance, and preparing correspondence, pleadings, briefs, motions, affidavits and other legal documents. Perform other duties in support of case work as assigned by the office attorneys.
• Maintaining client trust account and office account records.
• Develop and understanding of other community agencies and programs, professional services, and resources that meet our clients’ needs and that otherwise promote our clients’ interests. Develop and maintain points of contacts with those agencies, programs, and services.
• Assist with scheduling and with appointments for clients and volunteer programs and activities.
• Collect and enter data necessary for grant reporting requirements and federal regulations using Legal Action’s client database and timekeeping systems and other software such as Word and Excel.
OTHER DUTIES
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Extensive training will be provided, but the paralegal will be expected to demonstrate a sense of reasoning and resources necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities.
• An ability to speak Spanish, or another language that is spoken by a significant number of eligible clients, is desired.
• High school diploma is required.
• Experience in a legal or social services field is desired.
• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or comparable experience, is preferred.
• Ability to acquire information about various other agencies or programs providing services to the low-income community.
• Tactful communication skills and the ability to communicate both orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other staff.
• Fluency with MS Word is required.
• Fluency with Excel is desired.
• Fluency in using a database to enter information is desired.
• Fluency in conducting web-based research and other web-based activities is required.
• Good interpersonal communication skills are required.
• Ability to exercise judgment in complying with established policies and procedures, including elements of client confidentiality and case file management, is required.
Persons interested in applying for this position should submit: cover letter; resume; and a list of three references. Please summarize experience and qualifications in the cover letter as identified on resume. Applicants must e-mail their applications to: [email protected]. All application materials (resume, references and cover letter) must be sent as PDF.
If necessary, hard copies may be sent to:
La Crosse Paralegal Hiring Committee
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.
230 West Wells Street, Room 800
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203.
DEADLINE
This position will be open until filled but we will review applicants on a rolling basis. To assure early consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible and no later than close of business on Friday, July 6, 2018.