Staff Paralegal (Batavia)

Neighborhood Legal Services•Batavia, NY

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Neighborhood Legal Services is seeking a mission-driven Staff Paralegal to join our Batavia Office. The Staff Paralegal will screen individuals and provide follow-up services and referrals as needed, provide community education, and provide limited legal advice and counsel under attorney supervision. As a member of the Batavia team, the Staff Paralegal will play a vital role in helping people access the legal help they need while supporting NLS’s broader mission to challenge systemic inequality and promote justice across our region.

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.

Nice To Haves

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

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.