Paralegal (Children's Law Center)

BAY AREA LEGAL SERVICES INC•Tampa, FL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Bay Area Legal Services is seeking a Paralegal for their Children's Law Center. This role is for individuals passionate about helping those in need and who value work-life balance. Bay Area Legal Services is dedicated to providing high-quality legal counsel to individuals and non-profit groups with limited access to legal services, resolving their legal problems, and preserving their independence, hope, and dignity. The firm has over 190 dedicated staff members working to fulfill its mission and vision.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of experience as a paralegal with an AA degree in paralegal studies OR 1-year experience as a paralegal with a Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies OR 5 years of experience as a paralegal.
Excellent Time Management, Organizational Skills, detailed and deadline oriented.
Excellent written, verbal and proof-reading skills.
Extremely client focused with the desire & ability to work effectively and compassionately with clients in low-income levels facing social, economic, and legal issues who have limited access to services to assist them.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and complete the majority of tasks independently.
Ability to work in and contribute effectively to a team environment.
Extensive knowledge of legal documents, procedures and terminology.
E-filing of documents and processes.
Extensive knowledge of legal case management systems and accurately tracking and processing legal case data using these systems.
Complaint/Objection handling skills, Stress management skills, Telephone etiquette skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience at a Non-Profit
Knowledge of the Florida State Courts System
Knowledge of Florida Statutes related to child welfare and protection
Medical/nursing/mental health/special education advocacy background
Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) through Florida Bar

Responsibilities

Provide advanced, complex assistance to team attorneys under their direction and supervision.
Work in collaboration with team attorneys and social workers from a trauma-informed perspective to provide client-directed, holistic, and high-quality legal representation to child victims of abuse/neglect in dependency court.
Assist attorneys with all aspects of representation, including obtaining, organizing, and synthesizing medical, educational, and mental health records.
Draft pleadings and court orders.
Contact and interview witnesses.
Communicate with caregivers and clients when directed.
Conduct legal research for motion hearings, trial preparation, and investigations.
Assist attorneys and social workers with applications for benefits/services, including SSI Disability and Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Support staff facilitating or directly providing legal services to low-income clients.
Investigate facts, interview witnesses, and gather evidence for negotiations and trials.
Check and examine law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, constitutions, and legal codes to prepare complex legal documents, including legal memorandums and pleadings.
Assist attorneys with court orders after hearings with minimal supervision for attorney's approval.
Assist with trial preparation by organizing exhibits and assisting with other tasks as needed.
Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervising attorney and under the direction of the managing attorney.