Legal Assistant

About the role

Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization founded in 1974. We provide counseling and case management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance to veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our mission is to support veterans as they navigate the challenges of post-military life and to prevent and end veteran homelessness through wrap-around care and informed advocacy.

Job Title

Legal Assistant

Location

1060 Howard Street, San Francisco

Schedule

9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday

Reporting Type

Hybrid; two in-person days per week

Employment Type

Non-exempt and full time

Summary

The full-time, non-exempt Legal Assistant supports the Legal Services team by performing administrative and general office duties as well as assisting with grant tracking and reports. The role interacts with veteran clients seeking legal services and is responsible for conducting initial intake interviews, collecting necessary intake and grant documentation, and inputting data into our client management system.

Responsibilities

• Accurately collect and enter client intake data into our Salesforce-based case management system; scan and upload documentation to the client’s enrollment record
• Track grant deliverables and run reports of client data in the case management system to support grant reporting requirements; enter grant deliverable information into various online grant portals
• Meet with potential clients (in-person and by phone) to assess eligibility for legal services based on client location, presenting legal issue, and grant requirements
• Create and send documents and forms as needed by attorneys, including retainers, client record requests, claim paperwork, and case closing surveys
• Respond to email, telephone, and written inquiries for legal services and provide self-help legal information and referrals as needed
• Attend weekly staff meetings and supervisory check-in meetings
• Collect, sort, and distribute mail sent to the Legal Unit
• Perform other duties as required

Desired Qualifications

• Experience: Experience with or sensitivity to the needs of clients who are trauma survivors, experience mental health symptoms, are unhoused, and/or live with disabilities is preferred
• Familiarity with veteran issues is preferred
• Fluency in English and ability to effectively read, write, and communicate in English with staff, clients, and external partners and stakeholders

Comprehensive Benefits Package

• 100% employer sponsored medical, vision, acupuncture, and dental coverage
• Swords to Plowshares covers partial dependent coverage cost
• Employee Assistance Program: 20 mental health counseling appointments available to all employees, regardless of Full-time status, at no cost to employees
• 403(b) retirement plan immediate enrollment
• Generous annual paid time off
• Professional development reimbursements
• Annual education allowance

Organizational Values Statement of Intent

We are fully committed to the ongoing work of upholding our values and fostering a supportive culture for all staff and veteran clients. For us, this is a process and not a destination. We embrace the principles of cultural humility to create spaces where all people feel welcome, heard, and valued. We stand against injustice and discrimination of all kinds. We understand that the veteran community encompasses a multitude of identities, and we believe that our staff and board should as well. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are committed to compliance with all state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are dedicated to affirmative action and providing equal employment opportunities for everyone. We strive to ensure that all individuals—regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status—are treated fairly and have access to the same opportunities in alignment with federal regulations(Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974).