Staff Paralegal

About the role

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (NLS) is the largest nonprofit civil legal services provider in its five-county service area. Its mission is to seek equitable justice by providing access to legal advice, representation, and education to those in the community who, due to financial vulnerability, disability, discrimination, or abuse, require protection and advancement of their civil legal rights.

The NLS Batavia office serves Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties, focusing on housing law, public benefits, family law, disability law, and consumer issues. As a Staff Paralegal in the Batavia office, you will play a vital role in helping people access legal assistance while supporting NLS’s broader mission to challenge systemic inequality and promote justice across the region.

Responsibilities

• Screen and interview applicants for assistance; review client eligibility, case priority, and acceptance criteria; determine case acceptance; provide legal advice, counseling, or other brief services under attorney supervision during intake.
• Provide legal advice, counsel, and extended services on eligible matters under attorney supervision and in accordance with agency protocols.
• Triage and refer matters to appropriate legal units or outside agencies as needed.
• Handle assigned cases and projects under attorney supervision, maintaining an adequate caseload of administrative cases, including routine and major cases.
• Support attorneys by assisting with client contact, witness preparation, factual investigation (e.g., obtaining documents, photographs, or other evidence), legal research, drafting legal documents, and preparing demonstrative evidence for trials.
• Maintain docket and calendar; prepare periodic case reports; participate in case reviews with the Supervising Attorney.
• Participate in client advocacy projects, self-help remedies, impact litigation, community legal education, legislative and administrative advocacy, and outreach.
• Develop a working knowledge of all NLS practice areas and stay updated 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 collaboratively with other NLS staff on advocacy projects, provide informal assistance to colleagues, and cover for other advocates when necessary.
• Participate in volunteer attorney programs, including recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers; conducting intake; and developing relationships with private lawyers and the organized bar.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Strong personal work ethic and ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with a detail-oriented approach.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, multi-sector team.
• Self-directed with the ability to anticipate client needs.
• Cultural humility in working with low-income clients across diverse backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and limited English proficiency.
• Familiarity with diverse communities is a plus.

Pay

Salary is based on years of relevant paralegal experience and placement within Steps 1 through 22 of the salary scale. Prior credited experience is calculated from the date employment began in a qualifying paralegal or legal support role. Current salary steps include:

• Step 1 – $53,000
• Step 5 – $58,513.27
• Step 10 – $64,620.14
• Step 15 – $71,545.86
• Step 22 – $82,976.80

Schedule

Full-time position with a 35-hour work week and reduced summer hours.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous PTO policy: 3 weeks of vacation time, 12 paid holidays, plus a week of PTO between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Sick and personal leave.
• Eligibility for public student loan forgiveness.
• Life insurance and a pension plan.
• HRA and Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid memberships and professional development opportunities.