Paralegal - Housing Practice Group
About The Position
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) is seeking a professional, reliable, and dedicated paralegal to join their team. This position will initially support the Housing Law Practice Group to provide comprehensive legal services for civil issues in pursuit of LASCO’s mission and priorities in Central Ohio. The role involves collecting and organizing information and documents from clients, conducting intake evaluations for case determinations, completing forms for clients, file maintenance, routine correspondence, and general administrative tasks. LASCO's mission is to provide civil legal aid and advocacy to overcome unfairness and injustice, reduce poverty, and increase opportunity.
Requirements
- A positive attitude, go-getter mindset and drive to do things well.
- Demonstrated relevant experience of at least 3 years.
- Ability to anticipate needs and navigate problems with a creative, practical approach toward reaching successful resolution.
- The ability to prioritize workload to manage time and tasks in a dynamic environment.
- Proficient skills across the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).
- Demonstrated ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, effectively with diverse audiences.
- Strong work ethic with an eye for detail.
- High ability to exercise sound judgement and discretion.
- English language proficiency is essential.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States.
- Paralegal degree or certificate, Bachelor’s degree.
Nice To Haves
- Spanish/English or Somali/English bilingual skills are a plus.
- Additional languages – even better.
- Prior Legal Aid or related work experience a plus, but not required.
Responsibilities
- Serve as primary support for the daily work needs of attorneys in the Housing Law Practice Group.
- Support all functions related to legal advocacy, including but not limited to drafting and filing pleadings, conducting research, discovery, cite-checking and editing and formatting motions and briefing, drafting procedural motions, trial preparation.
- Assist in the daily work needs of attorneys in person at court, including intake, representation of clients facing eviction, client advice, negotiations and trial representation.
- Build relationships with clients and usher them through the intake and case acceptance process, working respectfully and effectively with clients who are dealing with high levels of stress.
- Collect, organize and manage information and documents from clients.
- Support translation of necessary documentation such as identification documents, written statements or similar.
- Intake evaluations to help with case determinations.
- Conduct client call backs and follow up with clients as needed.
- Assist attorneys in assessing client financial situation.
- Draft correspondence to clients including routine communications, closing letters and no contact letters among others.
- Draft forms for clients among other necessary documentation.
- Perform administrative tasks including opening hard files, opening electronic cases, sending intake packets, completing reporting paperwork and other related duties.
- Support and collaborate with staff, partners and other related parties to help achieve goals.
- Provides other assistance to attorneys as requested by the Managing Attorney or Executive Director.
- Be responsible for some general office work including incoming/outgoing mail, making copies, sending client information and other similar tasks.
Benefits
- Employer funded HRA (up to $12,000)
- Employer-paid employee dental and vision insurance
- Language skills differential ($2,500-$3,500 annually)
- Paid vacation, sick and holiday time
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
