Helpline Paralegal

About the role

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (“LASP”) seeks a full-time Paralegal for the Centralized Telephone Intake Helpline. LASP serves low-income individuals from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties facing issues regarding housing, including landlord/tenant law and foreclosure, family law, protection from domestic violence, consumer, employment and public benefits.

Responsibilities

• Perform clerical duties to assist other Helpline advocates such as providing information to callers, taking dictation, composing and typing routine correspondence, copying and scanning, picking up, sorting and routing incoming mail and preparing outgoing mail;
• Maintain files of correspondence and legal documents in office filing system;
• Retrieve files for audits and other purposes;
• Under supervision of an attorney, triage calls, evaluate the merit of cases, explain legal concepts to clients, and prepare correspondence and documents to assist in the representation of clients;
• Interview applicants and clients by phone to determine eligibility, issue spot, ascertain and investigate relevant facts, and conduct research;
• Create and maintain case files in LASP’s computer case management system, complete administrative tasks including, but not limited to, entering notes and time into the system;
• Manage a caseload by taking prompt action on assigned cases;
• Organize information and use technical resources so that information necessary to assist applicants and clients is easy to access and can be transferred to other staff for extended representation;
• Participate in LASP team efforts to achieve office and program goals, including program-wide affinity groups and task forces;
• Develop knowledge of relevant law and community referral resources through training, CLE, and other educational opportunities;
• Ensure that requirements of grants and contracts which provide funding for LASP are met and assist with grant reports as needed;
• Abide by all professional and ethical standards of excellence;
• Perform other duties as assigned or necessary for the effective operation of the office.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree;
• At least 2 years’ experience as a paralegal or related experience and/or training;
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer technology, including Microsoft products (particularly Word, Outlook and Excel), record and timekeeping software, and routine database activity;
• Excellent communication, time management and organization skills needed;
• Spanish language fluency is desirable.

Compensation and benefits

Base salary for paralegals start at $44,000, but salary is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits, including a 401K retirement plan with generous employer contributions, health insurance option in which 100% of premium costs are provided, ancillary benefits, and generous leave provisions, including paid holidays, floating holidays, personal leave, vacation, sick, and parental leave.

Equal opportunity employer

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate in the recruitment, selection, or advancement of employees on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information or on any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

To apply

To apply, send resume and cover letter including the job title (Helpline Paralegal) to Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania by email to Hiring@lasp.org. Position will remain open until filled.

Additional career opportunities

For additional career opportunities based in multiple locations, please visit lasp.org/careers.