Unemployment Compensation Unit Paralegal

Position: Paralegal, Unemployment Compensation Unit

Full-Time Position

Anticipated Start date: January 2023

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Hiring Timeframe: Rolling

Application requirements: Cover letter, resume, and 3 references

Background:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is the federally funded civil legal aid provider for Philadelphia’s low-income community, providing high-volume, high-quality legal services including community education, advice, referral, pro se assistance, and representation at administrative hearings as well as at all levels of state and federal courts in the areas of basic human needs: family safety, health, income maintenance, and home preservation.

The Unemployment Compensation Unit is a national leader in unemployment compensation litigation and advocacy. They have been at the forefront of the worker response to the Covid-19 crisis in Pennsylvania and work closely together as a team. The Unit coordinates with other legal services organizations, community groups, and local officials across the state to provide resources and information to workers who have lost their jobs and need access to unemployment benefits. The Unit also takes on impact litigation to improve the law for workers.

Unemployment compensation is a vital social safety net that provides temporary income replacement to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The Unit represents thousands of workers a year through counsel and advice, representation at administrative hearings, and briefing in administrative appeals.

Responsibilities:

This full-time position will be partially remote and partially located at 718 Arch Street. The UC Paralegal will serve primarily as a case handler who advocates for workers trying to access their UC benefits. As an advocate, they will interview clients and provide legal advice under the supervision of an attorney. The advocate will also be expected to represent clients at unemployment compensation administrative hearings, which involve the presentation of evidence and the direct and cross-examinations of witnesses. The advocate will work with the Unit attorneys to track case information and identify legal trends that may need to be addressed with the state agency or through litigation. There will also be opportunities to gain experience with various other aspects of a legal and policy practice, including legislative testimony, white papers, and policy briefs, community outreach, case development, communication with government agencies, and Right-to-Know and FOIA requests.

In addition to expertise in unemployment compensation law, the paralegal will gain substantive knowledge of other state and federal employment laws, including state and federal minimum wage and overtime, anti-discrimination, and tax laws. The paralegal may also be asked to spend one day a week on-site at the Philadelphia CareerLink North center assisting PLA’s UC Navigator in providing unemployment compensation application help to claimants.

Qualifications:

● Passion for workers’ rights

● Strong organization skills and attention to detail

● Strong public speaking skills

● Personable and empathetic

● Comfort using the internet and filling out online forms

● Driven and task-oriented

● Spanish fluency preferred but not required

● Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required

Salary and Benefits

Salary is dependent upon experience, starting at $41,000. PLA offers a generous benefits package in addition to salary: health insurance premiums paid in full for employees 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, however, this position may require additional time in the office as unemployment hearings are in person. At present, the hearing office is located at 801 Market Street, a short walk from our office.

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 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 in their cover letter.

Send a 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.