“SAVE YOUR HOME PHILLY” PARALEGAL – Eviction Diversion Team

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is hiring a full-time paralegal to work with low-income Philadelphia tenants in danger of losing their homes.  The position will start as soon as possible. 

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. 

PLA operates the “Save Your Home Philly” Hotline, a central point of contact for Philadelphia residents at risk of losing their homes. The lawyers and paralegals at PLA work in close collaboration with other non-profit law programs such as Community Legal Services, Philadelphia VIP, and a network of housing counselors to assist homeowners and renters 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.  It is designed to prevent homelessness and to preserve neighborhood and family stability by helping low-income individuals to remain in their homes. 

The “Save Your Home Philly” Hotline supports Philadelphia’s Eviction Diversion program, a mediation program which allows tenants to work with housing counselors to negotiate agreements with their landlords in order to prevent an eviction from being filed.  The “Save Your Home Philly” Hotline supports the program by reaching out to tenants, answering calls from tenants, and connecting tenants with housing counselors. 

As the City of Philadelphia develops its rental assistance program, the Hotline will provide support for that program as well. We are seeking a flexible candidate willing to learn about new programs or changes to the Eviction Diversion Program as it develops. 

Responsibilities 

A successful candidate will have a variety of responsibilities as part of a team of attorneys and paralegals, including:  

·         Handling a high volume of calls from tenants regarding the Eviction Diversion and Rental Assistance Program 

·         Providing information about the Eviction Diversion program and assistance to tenants entering the program 

·         Evaluating a tenant’s situation and making appropriate referrals 

·         Researching, understanding and utilizing statutes, regulations and city ordinances 

·         Coordinating and managing case referrals 

·         Providing litigation support to housing unit attorneys 

·         Identifying cases for advice and representation by unit attorneys 

·         Working with Housing Counselors to make appointments and ensure that housing counselors are aware of any special needs or circumstances with the tenant’s case 

·         Working within a team of Eviction Diversion staff to improve the services we provide for this new and growing program 

Qualifications 

Working with “Save Your Home Philly” is a hands-on, skill-building experience.  Previous knowledge of consumer and landlord tenant legal issues is not a requirement for this position. Qualifications include:  

·         Strong communication and interviewing skills 

·         Commitment to improving the well-being of low-income communities 

·         Compassion, understanding, patience, resilience and a talent for working cooperatively with a broad spectrum of people  

·         Maturity, self-motivation, and ability to adapt quickly 

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

·         Spanish language fluency a plus 

·         Computer literacy including the ability to learn and navigate between online databases 

Starting 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.   

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 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.