Staff Paralegal (Batavia)

Neighborhood Legal Services Inc•Town of Stafford, NY

5d•$53,000 - $82,977•Onsite

About The Position

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) is seeking a mission-driven Staff Paralegal to join its Batavia Office. The Staff Paralegal will screen individuals, provide follow-up services and referrals, conduct community education, and offer limited legal advice and counsel under attorney supervision. This role is vital in helping people access legal assistance and supporting NLS’s mission to challenge systemic inequality and promote justice. The Batavia office serves Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties, focusing on housing law, public benefits, family law, disability law, and consumer issues.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, or Associates degree in Paralegal Studies, or equivalent experience in legal services, social services, or crisis intervention.
Experience working with vulnerable populations and knowledge of community resources.
Self-motivated and dependable.
Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and communicate complex legal information clearly and empathetically.
Strong verbal and communication skills for client intake, client follow-up and attorney interface.
Strong writing skills
Proficient in computer systems, data entry, and ability to learn new case management and call center software.
Ability to multitask and manage a fast-paced environment with professionalism and empathy.
Willingness to work as a team member and contribute to the efforts on any case.
Strong personal work ethic and ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with ability to be detail-oriented.
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic and multi-sector team.
Curious and self-directed with an ability to anticipate client needs.
Cultural humility in working with low-income clients across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and limited English proficiency.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual or multilingual (especially Spanish)
Knowledge of civil legal issues faced by low-income communities.
Familiarity with trauma-informed service delivery.
Familiarity with diverse communities is a plus.

Responsibilities

Screen and interview applicants for assistance; review client eligibility, case priority and case acceptance criteria; determine whether to accept case; provide legal advice, counseling or other brief service under the supervision of an attorney during intake interview.
Provide legal advice and counsel and extended services on eligible matters in accordance with agency protocols and under attorney supervision.
Triage and refer matters to appropriate legal units or outside agencies, when needed.
Handle assigned cases and projects under supervision of an attorney consistent with Bar Rules and LSSP standards for representation. Maintain adequate caseload of administrative cases as assigned, including both routine and major cases, consistent with level of experience; attend to cases on a timely basis; keep clients notified of progress; maintain case files in accordance with program file maintenance policy; close cases promptly upon completion of representation.
Support attorneys by providing legal assistance and representation in specific cases including contact with client; locating, interviewing and preparing witnesses to testify; factual investigation such as obtaining documents, photographs and other evidence; performing legal research; drafting discovery, pleadings and other legal documents; analyzing, summarizing or indexing litigation documents; preparing charts, tables and other demonstrative evidence for trials; negotiating with unrepresented adverse parties such as landlords, merchants, social workers and public agency employees.
Maintain docket and calendar; prepare periodic case reports as required; participate in case reviews scheduled by Supervising Attorney.
Participate in client advocacy projects, development of self-help remedies and other impact litigation, community legal education, community economic development, legislative and administrative advocacy, outreach and other available forms of advocacy.
Develop a working knowledge of all NLS practice areas and stay up to date on relevant legal changes and resources.
Maintain a trauma-informed and culturally competent approach when interacting with clients in distress or crisis.
Participate in ongoing training and supervision to ensure quality and consistency of service delivery.
Work constructively as a team member with other NLS staff on advocacy projects consistent with program priorities.
Provide advice, co-counseling, training and other informal assistance to other staff in areas of expertise; cover for other advocates when necessary.
Participate as assigned in the operation of volunteer attorney programs, including recruit and train volunteers; conduct intake, prepare, assign and track cases; coordinate staff support to volunteers; develop and maintain quality control system; help develop relationships with private lawyers and organized bar; and coordinate staff and volunteer components of program.
Other duties as assigned.