Estate Planning Paralegal - Volunteer Attorney Program
About The Position
New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA), the state's largest provider of civil legal services for low-income New Mexicans, seeks a full-time estate planning paralegal to be assigned to NMLA's Volunteer Attorney Program (VAP). This program recruits volunteer attorneys to provide legal services to financially eligible clients of New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA). VAP handles a wide range of creative, challenging, and complex work. We seek innovative, highly motivated candidates who are passionate about justice and strongly committed to helping NMLA better serve our client community. This new position will support VAP's novel estate planning initiative in helping program applicants with simple wills, healthcare powers of attorney, advance directives, and other estate planning matters. The estate planning paralegal will be largely responsible for coordinating and assisting with estate planning legal fairs and education sessions across the state of New Mexico. This full-time position reports to the VAP Director, will be based in NMLA's Santa Fe or Albuquerque office, and requires up to 20% travel within the state. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
Requirements
- Must meet the New Mexico Supreme Court qualifications for paralegals (Rule 20-115), which may be satisfied through an approved paralegal program, qualifying education, national certification, law school graduation, or qualifying substantive law-related experience.
- Experience in estate planning, with a minimum of 3 years' experience preferred.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships within the staff and the community.
- Proficiency in the use of computer software including MS Word and Excel.
- Ability to effectively use computer technology and remote communication systems, including sharing on-line workspaces, web meeting and videoconferencing software.
- Strong time management skills and the ability to meet hard deadlines is a must.
- Valid New Mexico driver's license and automobile insurance, with own transportation and/or capacity and willingness to operate rental vehicles.
Nice To Haves
- Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Work with NMLA's regional office attorneys, VAP Director, and other staff in planning and recruiting pro bono attorneys to serve low-income clients at estate planning clinics throughout New Mexico.
- Assist VAP's Statewide Pro Bono Coordinator, Pro Bono Manager, and the courts, in planning, coordinating and marketing estate planning services at legal fairs, and legal information sessions to educate the public before legal fairs.
- Travel to and facilitate estate planning legal fairs and information sessions in urban and rural areas of New Mexico, including some overnight travel (up to 15% to 20% of time).
- Ability to lift up to 20 lbs of equipment and supplies.
- Demonstrate and apply the ability to work with and relate to clients of the program.
- Communicate with VAP clients, volunteer attorneys, and others both orally and in writing.
- Assist estate planning clinic pro bono attorneys in using VAP's software and hardware, including document automation, printing, and connecting to internet services.
- Monitor online estate planning applications.
- Conduct client interviews to identify legal issues, screen applicants for eligibility, and schedule clinic appointments for eligible applicants.
- Refer applicants to other agencies or sources of help if they do not qualify for assistance from NMLA.
- Input of significant amounts of client information and case detail into NMLA's online case management system.
- Assist with document drafting for pro bono attorneys as needed, using estate planning templates and other legal resources.
- Witness, notarize, and proofread legal documents.
- Collect and report data from legal teleclinics and fairs.
- Assist with testing and implementation of document automation software including programming of estate planning document templates.
- Travel out-of-state up to twice per year to attend grantee meetings.
- Complete other assignments as requested by VAP's Pro Bono Coordinator, Manager, or Director.
Benefits
- 100% employer-paid BCBS medical, plus dental and vision for employees
- Generous employer contributions toward dependent coverage
- Paid time off includes annual leave (starting at 3 weeks/year), 6 days personal time, 15 holidays, sick leave, and more
- Sabbatical program eligibility
- Hybrid work schedule (3 days in office, 2 days remote each week).
- Full-time 37.5-hour work week
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer contributions and matching
- Meaningful mission-driven work serving New Mexico communities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
