Paralegal Casehandler, Elder Law Unit (Brooklyn)

The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice is seeking an experienced and talented Paralegal Casehandler for the Elder Law Unit- Brooklyn Neighborhood Office.

The Elder Law Unit is a citywide unit which specializes in eviction defense for seniors in the Bronx and Brooklyn using an interdisciplinary legal-social work framework to secure long lasting solutions to often complex problems facing seniors. Paralegal Casehandlers carry their own caseloads and have significant responsibility in client advocacy, particularly in benefits matters related to their housing cases. The areas of benefits assistance and advocacy include but are not limited to: housing subsidies such as Section 8 and CITYFHEPS, SCRIE/DRIE, public benefits, emergency rental assistance (One Shot Deal), and Social Security. Casehandlers will also be responsible for advocating with external agencies such as the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and Adult Protective Serivces (APS) and may represent clients in administrative hearings. Casehandlers will work with staff attorneys and social workers to provide comprehensive and interdisciplinary services to clients in need. The Paralegal Casehandler may also be expected to assist with client intake and screening, outreach and community training.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage own case load and provide advice and direct assistance to clients on housing related benefits matters and assist attorneys and social workers in providing services to clients
• Conduct home visits to homebound seniors
• Interview clients and assist them with the completion and submission of applications for benefits
• Provide oral and written advocacy with various agencies regarding benefits related issues. Advocate with relevant administrative agencies on behalf of clients
• Provide client representation in administrative hearings
• Keep detailed electronic case notes and maintain document files
• Participate in client and community outreach efforts
• Develop community education materials and conduct trainings for clients and other advocates
• Conduct off-site meetings in clients' homes and other sites as needed, including during early evening hours

Professional Development and other duties as assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

Eligible candidates must have at least one of the following:

• A bachelor's degree (strongly preferred)
• A paralegal certificate from an ABA accredited paralegal program
• At minimum a high school diploma / GED and 4+ years of legal work experience
• 4+ years of combined higher education and legal work experience

Preferred qualifications:

• Excellent written, oral advocacy, and computer skills
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team and manage a large workload
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate successfully with other groups and organizations
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of older adults
• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience assisting people in crisis
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people and seniors
• Proficiency in languages other than English

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
• May or will require travel within NYC, across the five borough region

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $60,033 - $91,932

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

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

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.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

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.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

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 (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues.Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.