Staff Paralegal - Fair Housing

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.•Rochester, NY

4d•$38,670 - $69,620

About The Position

The Bath Office of Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc (LawNY) is currently hiring to fill a Staff Paralegal position to work in our Fair Housing Unit. The Fair Housing Paralegal will provide support services to clients and attorneys, in matters relating to eviction and fair housing, including client intake, advocacy to obtain/maintain public benefits, litigation support, and outreach providing legal information and education to the public. The Fair Housing Paralegal will have their choice of which of our offices they would like to work out of, contingent upon office space. These offices include: Ithaca, Bath, Geneva, Rochester, Jamestown, Olean, Geneseo or Elmira. Staff Paralegals at LawNY® provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients and the ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting communities with low-income intersect with social and economic justice. Staff Paralegals play a critical role in realizing LawNY®’s vision of a society where access to justice is not determined by one’s social or economic status. Every staff paralegal is expected to actively engage in learning and becoming increasingly skilled in practice that supports this vision.

Requirements

Paralegal Certification, Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree with courses in paralegal studies, and/or at least 2 years of experience working as a paralegal under the supervision of an attorney.
Demonstrated commitment to supporting individuals and communities facing economic and institutional barriers to legal access.
Reliable transportation for travel to visit clients, attend court appearances at remote sites, file documents, and attend outreach activities.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting clients and communities facing intersecting economic and social barriers.
Experience working with our client communities.
Strong and proactive problem-solving abilities, time management, and organizational skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
Experience with the use of trauma-informed care practices
Excellent use of Google Drive/GSuite, Word, Excel, and database programs.
Fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of LawNY.

Responsibilities

Screen phone, in-person, and online applications for legal services and intake eligible clients.
Make referrals to other providers and agencies for assistance.
Create and maintain client files, both physically and electronically, including obtaining eligibility and compliance documentation.
Interview clients and investigate their legal issues.
Assist clients with accessing and maintaining benefits and resources related to housing stability, including applying for public and/or emergency assistance, accessing resources to pay rental arrears, recertification of income for subsidized housing, and securing funds to pay utility arrears.
Provide litigation support to attorneys, including assisting attorneys in preparing cases for court, conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents, and corresponding with clients, courts, opposing counsel, and agencies.
Build and maintain relationships with court staff, community groups, and partner agencies.
Participate in eviction prevention outreach providing legal information and legal education to our community partners and the public.