De Novo Center for Justice and Healing

Paralegal, Family Law Unit – De Novo

De Novo is a community-based agency that provides free legal services and affordable mental health counseling for low-income people throughout the Greater Boston/Cambridge area. De Novo strives to create a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and safe work environment that welcomes, encourages, and values everyone’s contributions and fosters an exchange of ideas and mutual learning.

General Responsibilities: The Paralegal is responsible for screening and interviewing prospective clients and assessing client eligibility for legal services and De Novo’s monthly Family Law Clinics. She/he/they provide support to the Family Law Unit and, if fluent or proficient in second language, may be called upon to provide language interpretation/translation for clients with limited English proficiency.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Screen and interview prospective clients, assess client eligibility under existing program income and geographic guidelines and program/unit priorities.
  • Make referrals to other agencies, as appropriate.
  • Record client information using computerized record-keeping systems consistent with program needs and policies.
  • Become knowledgeable with substantive areas of practice.
  • Triage cases and identify imminent or urgent deadlines.
  • Assist with tracking deadlines and court events, and monitor court dockets.
  • Under the oversight of an attorney, provide simple legal information and/or self-help packets.
  • Under the supervision of an attorney, provide legal advice and assist clients in completing legal pleadings, court forms, and other litigation-related paperwork.
  • Under the oversight of an attorney, draft correspondence to clients, the court, and opposing party.
  • Attend and participate in scheduled meetings where client eligibility, advice, information and referrals are reviewed.
  • Participate in trainings and engage in community education and outreach, including targeted outreach to identified households facing eviction.
  • Provide administrative support to lawyers to prepare cases for court events.
  • Perform such other duties as assigned consistent with the provision of quality client services.

BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • Associates degree, paralegal certificate or equivalent experience.
  • Experience working with a broad range of people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and people with low incomes.
  • Strong writing and oral skills.
  • Strong computer skills.
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  • Capacity to identify and analyze legal and other problems.
  • Experience in family law, legal services, social services, or case management preferred.
  • Comfort working with a broad range of stakeholders, including professionals, community groups, and individuals.
  • Demonstrated concern for and commitment to the goals of legal services and to working for low-income people.
  • Experience working with interpreters and/or fluency in language(s) in addition to English preferred.
  • Multicultural/bilingual candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

HOURS, SALARY, AND BENEFITS: HOURS, SALARY, AND BENEFITS: The position is 35 hours/week. Salary range is $42,000 – $52,000 dependent on experience. Excellent fringe benefit package, including 100% employer paid health insurance for employee and families, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance, vacation, personal, and sick time, 403(b) plan, Flexible Spending Plan, training and professional development opportunities.

To Apply: Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter addressing experience and interests relevant to the position, and 2) a resume to John Froio, Deputy Director, De Novo, email address: jfroio@denovo.org. No phone calls please. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be considered on a rolling basis. For more information about De Novo refer to our website: www.denovo.org

De Novo is a Fair Employment Practices/Equal Employment Opportunity/disability accessible employer committed to maintaining a diverse workplace. Qualified candidates from diverse personal, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.