Paralegal II (Hybrid) - Tenant Law Center

Ccsww•Seattle, WA

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Seeking 2 Paralegals to join our team! The Tenant Law Center (TLC) is a homelessness prevention program that offers free legal assistance to qualifying low-income households in the City of Seattle and limited services throughout King County with matters related to eviction, subsidy termination, landlord/tenant issues, and credit issues related to past tenancies. This position supports three (3) Staff Attorneys and the Directing Attorney. In addition to paralegal support, this position will also be responsible for administrative tasks and data entry that is required by our grant funders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with legal coursework or Paralegal Certificate from accredited program.
Social services experience working with elderly, disabled, and/or low-income households.
Excellent computer skills.
Excellent written and oral communication.
Capacity to analyze and apply legal principles to practical problems.
Ability to manage and schedule responsibilities with little oversight.
Commitment to embracing a team environment and the collaborative process.
Demonstrate the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations.
Committed to working within the mission, goals, and values of Catholic Community Services.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience as a paralegal, or a combination of education, training, or experience which provides an equivalent background.
Fluency in second language that is spoken by a substantial number of King County clients.
Knowledge of local social services and other community resources.
Knowledge of the Residential Landlord Tenant Act and local housing codes.

Responsibilities

Handling intake sessions for new clients.
Interview clients in person at TLC office and on the phone.
Gather relevant legal, income and demographic information.
Complete intake forms, statistics cards, case opening memos, client retainer agreements and releases, conduct conflicts checks.
Enter information into database.
Review cases with supervising attorney to develop action plan.
Providing negotiation, legal information, referrals and self-help support to individuals under direction of supervising attorney and in compliance with Rules of Professional Conduct.
Develop and maintain knowledge of landlord-tenant, and debtor-creditor law.
Inform clients of eviction procedures and timelines before an actual eviction might happen
Provide relevant written materials, pro se forms, follow-up legal information and basic advice as requested by supervising attorney.
Consider how much the client is able to do for themselves.
Consult with supervising attorney whether law is violated by landlord and what governmental agencies should become involved.
Call/write to opposing parties who are not following proper procedures or with whom TLC wants to negotiate to resolve clients' legal problems and prevent litigation.
Call government agencies to report problems, get advice, make suggestions or gather additional information at clients' request.
Provide other relevant social & legal service referrals.
Assisting supervising attorney with litigation.
Draft legal papers (answers, motions, affidavits, settlements) for review by attorney.
Interview witnesses and draft declarations, gather and subpoena witnesses and evidence under supervision of staff attorney.
Attend trials and hearings as a runner for information gathering or communication with TLC office.
Organize client files, file documents, write closing letters and memos.