“SAVE YOUR HOME PHILLY” PARALEGAL

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) seeks to immediately hire a full-time paralegal to work with low-income Philadelphia residents in danger of losing their homes.

Background

PLA provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in Philadelphia. 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.

Join a tight-knit and committed team of paralegals who operate the “Save Your Home Philly” Hotline, a central point of contact for Philadelphia homeowners at risk of losing their homes. Supervised by an experienced homeownership attorney, the Save Your Home Philly Hotline paralegals respond to calls and inquiries from homeowners with a variety of legal issues: those behind on their mortgage or real estate tax payments, those with a need to prove ownership through probate or another quiet title action, those that are at risk of immediate sheriff sale of their home, and those that can access mortgage payment assistance programs. The Hotline staff work in close collaboration with Community Legal Services, Philadelphia VIP, and a network of housing counselors to assist homeowners in navigating the legal system, understanding and safeguarding their rights, and avoiding homelessness. The Hotline is a critical piece of the network of services available in Philadelphia for low-income homeowners to preserve neighborhood and family stability by remaining in their homes.

Responsibilities

Paralegals can expect to have a variety of responsibilities as part of a team of advocates, including:

Interviewing and advising clients faced with mortgage and tax problems, both in person and over the phone
Interviewing and advising clients with “tangled titles”, or claims to homeownership without having a record deed in their name
Evaluating a client’s situation and making appropriate referrals

Advocating for clients with mortgage companies and taxing authorities in writing as well as over the phone
Researching, understanding and utilizing statues, regulations and city ordinances
Coordinating and managing case referrals
Tracking policy developments and disseminating new information to other paralegals on the team
Proposing and supporting loan modification agreements

Qualifications

Working at PLA is a hands-on, skill-building experience. No prior legal experience or knowledge of housing or consumer law is necessary. A successful candidate will be a compassionate listener, like problem-solving, enjoy helping others as well as value a collegial workplace centered on service. Qualifications include:

Two or four-year college degree
Compassion, understanding, patience and a talent for working cooperatively with a broad spectrum of people
Maturity, self-motivation, and the ability to adapt quickly
Strong communication and interviewing skills

Good time management and organization skills
Ability to manage a client caseload
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally 
A sincere and strong commitment to helping others
A strong commitment to racial justice

Commitment to improving the well-being of low-income communities
Prior work or volunteer experience at a non-profit serving low-income clients is preferred

Salary and benefits

Salary is dependent upon experience, starting at $40,000.  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.    

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

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 five-page writing sample, 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. 