Paralegal - Rural Justice Grant

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas•Lubbock, TX

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) is a nonprofit public interest law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in 114 counties across North and West Texas. The organization works to ensure equal access to justice through legal representation, strategic litigation, legal advice, collaboration, outreach, and community education. LANWT seeks a dynamic, self-motivated paralegal committed to public interest law. Depending on office needs and experience, the position may primarily provide case support or manage an assigned caseload from intake through resolution under the ongoing supervision and authority of a licensed attorney. Paralegals do not practice law independently. The role may support one or more civil practice areas, including housing, family law, consumer rights and bankruptcy, employment and tax law, public benefits and Social Security, probate, foreclosure prevention, education and health law, and other general civil legal matters. The position is full-time and hybrid, based in Lubbock, Texas, with the announcement also listing numerous Texas cities as locations. It requires occasional travel to courts, agencies, community locations, and organizational meetings. The current entry-level salary is $40,150 per year; salary may be significantly higher based on experience. The position is non-exempt under state and federal wage and hour laws. LANWT offers paid vacation and holidays, a retirement plan, and health, dental, vision, and life insurance.

Requirements

Strong organizational skills; attention to detail; self-motivation; and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and professional, courteous interpersonal abilities.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and related computer applications.
Ability to manage emotions and interact calmly and professionally with clients and colleagues, including empathetically engaging with clients in crisis or experiencing trauma and de-escalating difficult interactions.
Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality under attorney supervision.
Ability to manage an independent caseload, including tracking deadlines and case status, when assigned case-handler duties.
Ability to understand, apply, and stay current on Legal Services Corporation regulations, LANWT policies and procedures, and grant and funding compliance requirements.
Strong work ethic, accountability, and professionalism.
Ability to travel occasionally and maintain reliable attendance.
Regular use of a computer and standard office equipment; occasional lifting and moving of files or materials; and periodic travel to courts, community locations, and organizational meetings.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree and paralegal certification.
Spanish fluency, both verbal and written.

Responsibilities

Provide paraprofessional legal assistance to eligible clients in civil legal matters, consistent with program priorities and attorney supervision.
Where assigned, serve as the primary case handler for designated matters, managing a caseload from intake through resolution under the supervision and authority of a licensed attorney.
Conduct client intake and screening, make referrals, and create and maintain accurate electronic case files.
Support case development through client interviews, fact gathering, research, and investigation using trauma-informed and culturally competent practices.
Draft pleadings, orders, correspondence, and other legal documents; file documents in person or by e-filing; coordinate hearings; and communicate with courts, opposing parties, and clients.
Support attorneys and advocates in client representation and community-based work, including outreach and legal education as assigned.
Maintain organized, current case records and track case status, statistics, and required reporting.
Develop and maintain knowledge of assigned legal practice areas and stay current on laws, procedures, and issues affecting LANWT's clients.
Build relationships with social service agencies and make appropriate client referrals.
Provide translation or interpretation for clients when applicable.
Participate in training, staff meetings, and supervision, and seek guidance as needed.
Travel to courts, agencies, and community locations in support of casework.
Maintain working knowledge of and comply with Legal Services Corporation regulations, LANWT policies and procedures, and grant and funding requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned by the managing attorney, deputy director, or CEO.
In housing matters, assist with eviction defense, habitability and unsafe housing cases, subsidized housing and Section 8 hearings, fair housing complaints, reasonable accommodation requests, and communications with landlords and housing authorities under attorney direction.
In family law matters, assist with protective order proceedings, divorce, conservatorship, visitation, child support, paternity, and cases involving grandparents and relative caregivers; coordinate with shelters and advocates on client safety planning.
In consumer rights and bankruptcy matters, assist with debt collection defenses, consumer claims, bankruptcy petitions and schedules, credit reporting disputes, and auto title and payday loan issues.
In employment and tax matters, assist with wage and hour claims, unemployment appeals, wrongful termination and discrimination cases, and IRS dispute documentation, including collections and Earned Income Tax Credit denials.
In public benefits and Social Security matters, assist with SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, SSDI, and SSI applications, appeals, administrative hearing preparation, overpayment disputes, and explaining program eligibility requirements.
In probate matters, assist with heirship determinations, small estate affidavits, muniments of title, guardianship alternatives, property documentation, wills and estate planning documents, and probate filings.
In foreclosure prevention matters, assist with foreclosure representation, loss mitigation and loan modification paperwork, communications with mortgage servicers and lenders under attorney direction, wrongful foreclosure and servicing issues, and tax foreclosure prevention options.
In education and health matters, assist with IEP and Section 504 disputes, school discipline hearings, healthcare access and insurance marketplace issues, and long-term care and nursing facility disputes.
Provide support on other civil legal needs, disaster-related legal work, impact litigation, and strategic advocacy as assigned.