PARALEGAL I

Whitman-Walker Health • Washington, DC

3h • $47,000 - $58,750 • Hybrid

About The Position

Whitman-Walker's Legal Services Program, established in 1986, offers pro bono legal counseling and representation to individuals living with HIV, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity, on civil legal matters related to their diagnosis. The program also serves LGBTQ individuals and families, as well as Whitman-Walker health care patients, regardless of HIV status, in areas of expertise. Key practice areas include discrimination based on HIV, sexual orientation, or gender identity; Social Security disability, Medicaid, Medicare, and other public benefits; private health and disability insurance; elder law; immigration; estate planning documents; and name/gender marker changes for transgender individuals. The program operates across three offices in Washington D.C. and emphasizes an integrated care model, functioning as the nation's oldest medical-legal partnership. This role offers a collaborative environment with medical, behavioral health, and dental providers to achieve better client outcomes.

Requirements

• Commitment to working with people living with HIV; persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and low-income clients.
• Sense of humor, a strong work ethic, a demonstrated ability to work well with others in stressful situations, and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge and experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, database management and utilization, online meeting platforms, and online document creation/sharing tools.
• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or demonstrate professional experience through former employment, volunteer, and/or academic achievements.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with public benefits and insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Retirement and Disability, health insurance including subsidies available through the Affordable Care Act, and updating identity documents.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and paralegal case support to attorneys on legal matters including discrimination based on HIV, sexual orientation, or gender identity; Social Security disability, Medicaid, Medicare, and other federal, state and local public benefits programs; private health and disability insurance; elder law; immigration; wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives; medical confidentiality; medical debt; and name and gender marker changes on legal records for transgender persons.
• Handle a caseload of matters related to public benefits and insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Retirement and Disability, and health insurance subsidies through the Affordable Care Act.
• Perform client intake and counseling; investigation and analysis of cases; legal research and writing; drafting documents; coordinating client meetings; tracking governmental submissions; and assisting other legal staff with client assistance efforts.
• Provide backup client intake and counseling to the Intake Coordinator for walk-in clients.
• Work with the Legal Services Operations Manager to support legal staff needs including filing and file storage, technology needs, community outreach, volunteer relations, and administration of legal clinics.
• Assist the Legal Services Director, Supervising Attorney, and Operations Manager with various aspects of program administration.
• Be based at the Florida Ave. NW/1701 14th Street NW office, but be available and willing to rotate to other locations as needed.
• Meet with clients in their homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other community settings, as needed.
• Travel throughout the greater Washington metropolitan area when needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level