Paralegal

Pine Tree Legal Assistance•Bangor, ME

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is hiring a Paralegal in our Bangor, Maine office! The paralegal is responsible for handling a wide range of civil legal needs of low-income residents of the office service area. Case acceptance decisions are made by the office as a whole, consistent with Pine Tree’s Statement of Priorities and specific grant requirements, which may change over time. The paralegal will support Pine Tree’s general intake system by spending two 2.5 – 3 hour shifts per week on Pine Tree’s telephone intake system, Call Center. Intakes will also be completed during the Bangor office’s weekly walk-in hours as assigned by the Managing Attorney. The paralegal will complete additional intakes that come in as courthouse pick ups, referrals, online intakes, and messages from people who speak languages other than English as needed upon request of the Director of Access and Training, the Intake Manager, the Unit Staff, or others from within or outside of Pine Tree Legal Assistance. Intake responsibilities include initial contacts and client interviews, facilitating needed communication accommodations for clients, eligibility screening, computerized data entry of client information in the case management system, and the provision of legal information and referrals when appropriate. Under attorney supervision, the paralegal will provide legal assistance to eligible clients, including client counseling and negotiations with opposing parties, and general litigation support.

Requirements

A valid driver's license and the ability to travel throughout Maine is required.
Applicant must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the state of Maine.

Nice To Haves

Current appointment as a Maine Notary Public is preferred, but we will assist the right candidate to acquire this credential upon hire.

Responsibilities

Handle all legal work in accordance with Pine Tree’s written Standards of Practices and other relevant ethical and professional responsibilities
Comply with all Legal Services Corporation regulations and with other funder requirements as appropriate
Maintain accurate and contemporaneous timekeeping for all work activities
Address administrative responsibilities as a Pine Tree employee in a prompt and thorough manner (including payroll and reimbursement requests, as well as grant inquiries and other funder needs)
Develop general familiarity with legal rights related to the intake in all areas of the law Pine Tree practices and utilize training opportunities that will strengthen individual performance and job skills on an ongoing basis
Ensure intake notes sufficiently describe the client’s legal need and services provided and otherwise comply with funder requirements
Open case files in a timely manner, promptly communicate with attorney to determine next steps, and initiate investigation through retainers, releases and records requests
Maintain files and follow up on records requests and investigation to ensure compliance with funder requirements for the work
Prepare files for closing in a timely manner and work with attorneys as needed to document level of service provided and all appropriate outcomes of legal representation
Actively participate and contribute to regular case meetings, and other office discussions
Communicate effectively with potential clients (including those with limited English or who face other communication barriers) and treat all clients and potential clients with respect
Maintain a professional demeanor with outside agencies and groups, opposing parties, opposing counsel and other participants in the civil justice system
Contribute to and maintain Pine Tree’s high standards for excellence, support colleagues in their work, and otherwise act in accordance with Pine Tree’s Statement of Core Values
Through Call Center, walk-in, courthouse pick ups, referrals, and other intake methods, provide professional support in response to requests for assistance
In addition to the work on intake of cases, the paralegal will conduct additional under attorney supervision
Identify and communicate effectively with individuals seeking legal assistance from Pine Tree, including people in crisis and those who are at risk as a result of culture, communication, or other barriers (including those with limited English proficiency, who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, who are blind, or visually impaired, who are illiterate or have low literacy levels, and those with mental health challenges)
Provide outreach to area organizations and collaborations that work with low-income people in office service areas in order to promote increased enforcement of legal rights and appropriate referrals to Pine Tree Legal Assistance, especially in areas involving basic human needs and other areas that reflect significant unmet needs within local communities
Accurately support the office / project client escrow account and/or revolving fund account (where appropriate)
As needed by the office or project, notarize legal documents as a Notary Public and maintain credentials as such
As needed by the office or project, serve subpoenas
Appropriately handle incoming and outgoing correspondence and ensure that it is received by the appropriate staff in a timely manner
Work with administrative staff, as needed, related to office supplies, office maintenance issues, grant reporting, and timekeeping