The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking a Paralegal Casehandler for the Bronx Housing Justice -Tenant Defense Unit. The Paralegal Casehandler works on their own cases as well as with the Housing Staff Attorneys to resolve benefits and advocacy issues, including but not limited to obtaining rent arrears and ongoing rental assistance through appropriate programs agency advocacy, representation of clients at administrative hearings, and outreach and training for affected client communities and service providers. The Paralegal Casehandler is on the front lines of assisting individuals and families to avoid imminent eviction.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conducts intake, Client interviews, provide advice and direct assistance, and assess requests for services
• Represent clients at administrative hearings at HRA or other appropriate forums
• Work with Staff Attorneys to resolve the benefits issues involved with housing practice cases
• Obtain rent arrears and ongoing rental assistance through FHEPS and other programs
• Handle a high volume of individual cases and respond to the needs of community-based organizations
• Prepare motion documents including client affidavits
• Conduct advocacy in eviction cases and termination hearings
• Develop community education materials and conduct trainings for clients and other advocates
• Maintain case records
• Conduct courthouse-based and offsite intake as needed, including during evening hours
• Conduct policy advocacy on behalf of clients
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field or paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program
• Excellent written, oral advocacy, and computer skills
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and manage a large workload
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate successfully with other groups and organizations
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people and immigrants is strongly desired
• Experience assisting people in crisis is desirable, but not required
• Proficiency in languages other than English, especially Spanish, is desirable, but not required

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role.  The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $57,687 to $83,218

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society 

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.

Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov 

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

• Cover Letter
• Resume