Paralegal – SCCLS
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS), a growing non-profit civil legal aid program, provides quality legal assistance to low-income and other vulnerable residents of Southeastern MA, Cape Cod & Islands. SCCLS seeks to hire Paralegals to join its Intake team. **Due to Covid-19 the Intake team is currently operating remotely but otherwise is sited at SCCLS’ office in Fall River, MA. The Intake team, including a Supervising Attorney, works with advocacy staff across the organization’s law offices. This is an excellent opportunity to join an organization of supportive, creative colleagues who work hard to provide life-changing legal assistance for the most vulnerable persons in our communities.
DUTIES: Paralegals on the Intake team are the initial point of contact for individuals with critical needs. Interviews with applicants must be conducted efficiently and with empathy to identify legal needs and to determine eligibility for services. Other duties can include: counseling and advocacy; legal research and writing as assigned; developing community legal education materials and coordinating community outreach activities; and assisting with grant reporting.
QUALIFICATIONS: We prioritize prior lived or work experience, commitment to and/or aptitude for working with vulnerable populations or those who may have experienced poverty, trauma or discrimination. You will bring a commitment to race equity and anti-racism in your work and in the workplace. You are someone who can work independently but also as part of a team. You are organized, detail oriented and able to prioritize; you are proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and willing to learn the case management system. You are able to engage effectively with people from diverse cultures, with diverse opinions and values. You are willing to become familiar with substantive areas of the law (housing, family, immigration, benefits, consumer etc.). Fluency in a language that reflects our client communities (Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Khmer) is highly valued.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Salary is based on a collective bargaining agreement scale currently starting at $46,600 with yearly standard increases, multi-lingual annual increment for demonstrated language skills. Starting Benefits package: health and dental with supplemental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b). Generous paid leave including sick, vacation, personal and holidays.
APPLY: Submit letter of interest and resume by email to: LThelin@sccls.org with Subject Line: SCCLS Paralegals. For timely and comprehensive consideration, applications should be received by January 6, 2023. Application reviews will begin immediately.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
SCCLS and its subsidiary, the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSM), with a combined staff of nearly 80, is the principal provider of free, civil legal aid to low-income residents of Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. SCCLS law offices are located in Hyannis, New Bedford and Fall River. The Justice Center is located in Brockton. SCCLS’ core mission is to achieve justice for eligible clients through community-based advocacy. The organization prioritizes legal services in: housing, public benefits, elder law, domestic relations, employment, education, immigration, and consumer matters.
South Coastal Counties Legal Services and its subsidiary are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We strive to foster a healthy, inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members are valued, empowered and recognized.
