Staff Paralegal - Fair Housing

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Bath Office of Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc (LawNY) is currently hiring to fill a Staff Paralegal position to work in our Fair Housing Unit.  The Fair Housing Paralegal will provide support services to clients and attorneys, in matters relating to eviction and fair housing, including client intake, advocacy to obtain/maintain public benefits, litigation support, and outreach providing legal information and education to the public. The Fair Housing Paralegal will have their choice of which of our offices they would like to work out of, contingent upon office space. These offices include: Ithaca, Bath, Geneva, Rochester, Jamestown, Olean, Geneseo or Elmira. 

Staff Paralegals at LawNY® provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients and the ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting communities with low-income intersect with social and economic justice. Staff Paralegals play a critical role in realizing LawNY®’s vision of a society where access to justice is not determined by one’s social or economic status. Every staff paralegal is expected to actively engage in learning and becoming increasingly skilled in practice that supports this vision.

RESPONSIBILITIES These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.

The Staff Paralegal will provide support to clients and attorneys, in fair housing related matters, to include:

• Screen phone, in-person, and online applications for legal services and intake eligible clients.
• Make referrals to other providers and agencies for assistance. 
• Create and maintain client files, both physically and electronically, including obtaining

eligibility and compliance documentation. 

• Interview clients and investigate their legal issues. 
• Assist clients with accessing and maintaining benefits and resources related to housing stability, including applying for public and/or emergency assistance, accessing resources to pay rental arrears, recertification of income for subsidized housing, and securing funds to pay utility arrears.
• Provide litigation support to attorneys, including assisting attorneys in preparing cases for court, conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents, and  corresponding with clients, courts, opposing counsel, and agencies. 
• Build and maintain relationships with court staff, community groups, and partner agencies. 
• Participate in eviction prevention outreach providing legal information and legal education to our community partners and the public. 

QUALIFICATIONS These are the basic requirements for the position.

• Paralegal Certification, Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree with courses in paralegal studies, and/or at least 2 years of experience working as a paralegal under the supervision of an attorney. 
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting individuals and communities facing economic and institutional barriers to legal access.
• Reliable transportation for travel to visit clients, attend court appearances at remote sites, file documents, and attend outreach activities.

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

The beginning salary for a Staff Paralegal with no experience is $38,670 and the salary for a Staff Paralegal with thirty years of experience is $69,620.  Salary will be based on experience. LawNY is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF).

LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including:

•  94% Employer paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer paid in-network deductible 
• 100% Employer paid Dental Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Enhanced Short-term Disability
• 100% Employer paid Long-term Disability
• Vision Insurance
• 20 Paid Vacation days per year
• 12 Sick days per year
• 5 Personal days per year
• 13.5 Holidays plus 2 floating Holidays per year
• 35-Hour Work Week

ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities.

• Prior experience supporting clients and communities facing intersecting economic and social barriers.
• Experience working with our client communities.
• Strong and proactive problem-solving abilities, time management, and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills. 
• Ability to work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
• Experience with the use of trauma-informed care practices 
• Excellent use of Google Drive/GSuite, Word, Excel, and database programs. 
• Fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
• Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of LawNY.

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income clients in a 14-county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Lakeville and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester. 

LawNY® is committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture. We are increasingly committed to creating a law firm where race equity, diversity and cultural competency are integral components of our work, from client advocacy to internal operations. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three professional references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform found here: https://lawny.bamboohr.com/careers/282 

When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe unpaid volunteer/internships as such. The application for this position is open until filled. 

To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to supporting our diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think that your background and experience has prepared you to contribute to our mission, vision and values at LawNY®.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations to support you in your role - whether for your interview, onboarding, or your day-to-day work, please let us know by sending an email to:accommodationrequest@lawny.org.  Any information shared will remain confidential and only be used to ensure the appropriate support is in place before your first day. As part of your employment, LawNY will provide the necessary hardware to support your role.

Questions? Contact Michelle Grillone at mgrillone@lawny.org

LawNY is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. If you meet the basic qualifications of the role, we encourage you to apply! 

This position is considered non-exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.