Full-Time Paralegal Intake Unit

Organization:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is a non-profit legal services program primarily funded by the Legal Services Corporation that serves low income residents of Philadelphia County and farmworkers throughout Pennsylvania. For Philadelphia residents who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, our legal assistance is often crucial to protecting their homes, their children, their safety, and their livelihood.

Position:

PLA seeks to immediately hire a full-time paralegal for its Intake Unit. The unit consists of three paralegals who are currently supervised by an experienced attorney. The primary focus of the position is to conduct telephone interviews with prospective clients during which a determination of financial eligibility and the identification of the legal problem(s) are made. Paralegals complete referrals to pro bono agencies and provide advice and brief services under the supervision of their supervising attorney. Paralegals will perform more intensive casework as capacity allows, especially in the area of probate as it relates to homeownership. The ideal candidate will possess excellent knowledge of PLA practice areas and knowledge of other community resources for appropriate referrals.  There is intensive in-house training and close supervision will be provided. 

Qualifications:

·        A college degree is preferred.

·        Strong communication and interviewing skills.

·        Ability to interact and communicate calmly with people.

·        Ability to analyze complex factual scenarios and, after training, identify the legal problem.

·        A commitment to improving the well-being of low-income communities.

·        Maturity, self-motivation, flexibility resilience, and ability to adapt quickly.

·        Prior work or volunteer experience at a non-profit serving low-income clients is preferred.

·        Strong writing and problem-solving skills.

·        Spanish fluency strongly preferred.

Starting Salary and Benefits:

Salary is dependent upon experience, starting at $39,000. PLA offers a generous benefit package in addition to salary: health insurance premiums paid in full for employee and family, cash incentives for health insurance opt out, vacation, personal, and sick leave, thirteen (13) paid holidays, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution based on years of service, life insurance and short and long-term disability benefits. 

Work Location:

PLA’s office is at 718 Arch Street in Philadelphia. Staff may request to work from home up to 3 days per week. 

Application Process:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer. PLA values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, people who have experienced poverty or homelessness, and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply. PLA invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

Send cover letter, resume, references, and writing sample (no more than 5 pages), preferably in one PDF document, to work@philalegal.org.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. We encourage applicants to submit applications as soon as possible.