CONTEXT OF POSITION: Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) provides free legal representation to people with disabilities, people aged 60 or over, people with low incomes, and victims of crime and discrimination to help our clients obtain shelter, income and other government benefits, educational services, medical services, orders of protection from abuse, legal immigration status, and other civil legal remedies.
Under the supervision of attorneys, the Elder Law Program (ELP) paralegal will assist clients statewide and will conduct outreach. The applicant for this position must be able to interact effectively with and be sensitive to the special needs of CLASI clients, including people who are elderly, individuals with physical and mental disabilities and their families, people with low incomes, people who speak Spanish, and victims of crime.
DUTIES:
1. Interview clients, determine eligibility for services, and conduct factual investigations and preliminary merit assessments throughout the state.
2. Under supervision of attorney, represent clients in meetings and administrative hearings when appropriate.
3. Perform legal research and writing.
4. Draft correspondence and other documents under the supervision of an attorney.
5. Draft and file court pleadings using electronic filing services.
6. Provide social service assistance to clients as needed.
7. Participate in statewide and local community groups and councils, including those that meet at night and/or on weekends, as necessary.
8. Manage and organize applicant and client information using forms and computerized data system; assist with the collection, preparation, and presentation of data and analysis.
9. Submit timekeeping and other reports in a timely manner.
10. Travel as directed to see clients, conduct outreach, and participate in work-related activities.
11. Become and remain well-informed regarding basic legal principles applicable to area(s) of practice, attending training conferences as needed or requested by supervising attorney(s).
12. Willingness and ability to perform some duties in non-traditional settings, including but not limited to holding office hours to meet with clients on-site at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior centers, and other similar locations.
13. Interpret and/or translate for other CLASI staff, as needed.
14. Other duties as assigned.
1. Ability to communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing, required.
2. Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, orally and in writing, preferred.
3. Paralegal certificate and/or paralegal experience preferred.
4. College degree preferred.
5. Sensitivity to the special problems of CLASI clients, including people with low incomes, people with disabilities, members of minority groups, people aged 60 and over, and those born in other countries.
6. Ability and willingness to make effective public presentations.
7. Ability to organize and maintain detailed information.
8. Ability to travel across the state routinely and to work evenings and weekends occasionally as needed for out-of-office training sessions, agency-related meetings, and community education presentations.
9. Ability to travel to and attend overnight conferences throughout the United States.
10. Ability to apply modern technology to the performance of legal work and tasks.
11. Ability to organize work and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
12. Flexibility, including willingness to work in any of CLASI’s areas of practice as needed.
Please email resume and cover letter to Anthony Panicola at [email protected]