Paralegal

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change. Since 1911, Maryland Legal Aid has provided high-quality legal aid to vulnerable, low-income people and communities—helping to remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges, achieve stability and independence, and reach their goals. MLA also identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. MLA’s core work includes eviction and foreclosure prevention, family law, children’s rights, consumer protection, securing public benefits, and access to healthcare.

MLA is committed to ensuring legal representation for all Marylanders facing eviction or forced displacement. Since its inception in October 2022, MLA’s Tenant Right to Counsel Project (TRCP) has represented over 1,600 households. Now, operating across the state, TRCP seeks to hire one paralegal in the Midwestern Maryland office, located in Frederick, MD, who is passionate about public interest law and social justice and wants to work closely with communities burdened by systemic socioeconomic barriers to prevent eviction and homelessness.

About the Role

TRCP staff attorneys work at the front line of Maryland’s housing justice movement, interviewing renters by phone and at court on their day of trial, and engaging them through grassroots outreach. TRCP is building a committed, collegial, and hard-working team to lead multi-faceted advocacy focused on trial representation, appeals, community outreach, and policy work.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys in all aspects of representation in Failure to Pay Rent, Tenant Holding Over, and Breach of Lease eviction cases.
• Regularly attend court as part of MLA’s same-day representation program to assist attorneys and clients.
• Assist attorneys in all aspects of representation in administrative hearings regarding the retention or recovery of housing subsidies.
• Participate in client intake in-person in the office on a regular basis and in community outreach initiatives.
• Continue professional development and education by attending trainings and other programs sponsored by Maryland Legal Aid.
• Maintain case records for clients in the LegalServer case management system.

All the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

• Ability to use a computer, web-based applications, and computer programs such as Office 365, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication, research, critical thinking, and writing skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet regular deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to provide quality legal advocacy and representation for a low-income, diverse client base.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally in Maryland as needed.
• Knowledge of Westlaw Edge or other legal research software is a plus.
• Prior experience and/or interest in providing nonprofit legal services is a plus.
• Spanish language proficiency is desirable.

Work Environment

Work duties are typically performed in a general office setting with regular interaction via telephone, videoconference, instant messaging, email, in person, and in a courtroom. Certain work duties may be performed in community settings.

Pay

The current salary range for the paralegal classification is $53,045 - $93,996. Relevant professional experience counts toward salary determination. Paralegals are eligible for additional compensation for conferred degrees and certificates ranging from $500 to $4,000.

• One (1) year of experience: $54,069
• Three (3) years of experience: $56,116
• Five (5) years of experience: $58,164

Benefits

MLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off and sick leave
• 14 annual paid holidays
• Hybrid work arrangement