Receptionist/Intake Paralegal

Program Description

Sterling Legal Services (SLS) fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. SLS provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Staten Island's diverse low-income populations. SLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients —preserving affordable and decent housing, preventing foreclosures, representing survivors of domestic violence, assisting in obtaining government benefits, obtaining immigration status and preventing deportations, and advocating for the LGBTQ community, students with educational needs and people with disabilities. SLS is a part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), which is the largest provider of civil legal services in the country. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers. LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center.

Role and Responsibilities

• Welcome prospective clients and visitors to the office and direct them to the appropriate case handler or external resource;
• Answer the phones, including responding to inquiries regarding our services, directing calls, and taking messages;
• Perform preliminary intake or screening interviews, including preparation of appropriate forms, which may require occasional typing;
• Conduct screenings and intake via telephone, video, and in-person at our office and off-site to determine whether prospective clients can be assisted by our office, including obtaining necessary demographic data, initial determination of financial eligibility, and ascertaining type of problem;
• Coordinate follow-up services, including appointments, referrals, client correspondence, and gathering documents and other information;
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of our office priorities and intake;
• Maintain familiarity with internal and external referral resources to ensure appropriate client referrals;
• Identify appropriate referrals for people who cannot be assisted by our office, and make referrals;
• Open and close files for clients and ensure compliance with program protocols;
• Distribute basic client service information materials;
• Assist case handlers on client-related matters, including making phone calls, sending basic correspondence and obtaining information;
• Enter and track information in electronic format, including databases and grant management systems and other formats, run reports with the data, and assist in preparation for audits;
• Maintain client-related files, including copying, scanning, uploading and distributing documents;
• Interpret, translate, and use language assistance resources;
• Sort and distribute the mail;
• and Other tasks as assigned consistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience working directly with the public;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a calm, helpful demeanor in a sometimes stressful and fast-paced environment;
• Be able to handle a busy reception desk and interact with a wide range of people including low-income clients, case handlers, and representatives of community organizations;
• Excellent attention to detail and able to meet deadlines;
• A demonstrated passion for social justice and a commitment to working with low-income communities;
• Strong written, communication and organization skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies;
• Spanish language fluency is required.

Salary and benefits

The salary and benefits are determined by the Legal Services NYC Collective Bargaining Agreement. As fluency in Spanish is required, a language proficiency test and interpreter skills assessment will be administered. All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

How to Apply

Interested individuals should upload their cover letter expressing their interest in the position and resume onto Greenhouse. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Please no telephone calls.

About Legal Services NYC

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers. LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.