Tag Archive for: GBLS

Paralegal, Public Housing Unit (Boston) – GBLS

Please apply here.

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is committed to fair employment practices. We are proud to employ staff with the cultural and linguistic competency to work within a variety of communities.

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) seeks applications for a full-time Paralegal position in its Housing Unit, focused on supporting public housing Local Tenant Organizations and other tenants’ groups, advancing housing stability, and protecting tenants’ rights.

Responsibilities: The Paralegal will attend and actively participate in meetings related to public housing redevelopment, including meetings with tenant associations, housing authorities and private developers; prepare for and actively facilitate meetings with tenant associations regarding their ongoing legal concerns; prepare client-friendly summaries of legal documents and attorneys’ advice; develop relationships with tenant association board members and organizers; and provide logistical support at meetings.

The Paralegal may also support other Housing Unit projects serving tenants in public, subsidized, and private housing. This work may include subsidy termination cases, eviction defense and prevention, eviction record sealing, EA shelter advocacy, legislative and administrative advocacy, impact litigation, and other Housing Unit projects as needed.

GBLS is a hybrid workplace and will allow work from home several days per week. Off-site travel and work outside business hours are required, and will include regular in-person meetings around greater Boston and at least one weekly evening meeting. GBLS provides reimbursement for work-related travel.

Qualifications: We seek a candidate who works collaboratively, has strong attention to detail, and demonstrates sound judgment and initiative. Applicants should also possess strong analytical, organizational, and advocacy skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing. Prior experience working with tenant organizations, housing law, community organizing, or public housing redevelopment is preferred. Fluency in one or more languages spoken by GBLS clients (e.g., Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Arabic) is a plus. Candidates with lived experience of displacement and housing instability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Starting Date: Immediate; no later than October 16, 2026.

Compensation and Benefits: Salary and benefits are based on a union scale and additional compensation for increased years of experience. A paralegal with 3 to 6 years of experience (including certain educational experiences) would earn between $51,000 and $54,000, with an additional $950 annual payment for a second language fluency. GBLS offers a generous benefits package including low-cost comprehensive health insurance, paid time off, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Application: Candidates should submit (a) a resume, and (b) a letter of interest, each in a separate PDF file, to the Human Resources Department via e-mail at jobs@gbls.org. Please refer to Job Code: HU-PARA (Public Housing) when applying for this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning August 13, 2026, and will be accepted until the position is filled.

At GBLS, we recognize our strength comes from the unique contributions of each team member. We invite candidates from all walks of life and backgrounds to apply.

Recent law eliminates rental broker fees in Boston, offering some relief to tenants

Below is the full text of a Scope article from 08/19/25.

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Full Article from the Scope.

By Devyn Rudnick

Boston renters are no longer responsible for paying broker fees thanks to a new state law that may make moving more affordable amid the city’s pressing housing crisis.

Prior to Aug. 1, when the law took effect, real estate professionals charged tenants “broker fees” for services that are primarily provided to a landlord. These fees are often equivalent to one month’s rent. Add on the other typical move-in costs — renters are generally asked to pay their first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a security deposit (which is usually also equivalent to one month’s rent) and the broker fee — and a potential tenant’s upfront cost is brought up to around four months’ rent — a price many people can’t afford to pay.

Now the law for Massachusetts renters reflects what is common in most service-based industries: whoever hires the broker service is required to pay for it.

This legislation, outlined in a budget bill, eliminates a steep cost for tenants and a major barrier to finding a place to live. Renters still have to pay initial fees, but unless they hire a broker themselves, tenants are free from this unnecessary cost.

“All renters are going to benefit from this,” said Mark Martinez, a housing staff attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. “We all know the cost of living in Boston is astronomical, but the upfront moving costs are really just so prohibitive for so many people … It doesn’t make rent more affordable, but it does make moving around in the city, a city that is very transitory, a little bit easier.”

Massachusetts was the last state in the country to create a law preventing landlords from forcing tenants to pay broker fees. New York’s Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act took effect earlier this year, and while some critics cite higher rent as a symptom of the law, experts say it does more good than harm.

“If we never banned broker fees in Massachusetts, for the vast, vast majority of renters, their rent was going up next month anyway,” said Martinez. “So I think it’s really disingenuous, in the market that we exist in, to say that this law is the reason why rent is going up, when folks’ rents were going up anyway.” Martinez also said that it is easier for most people to spread out this cost over 12 months, rather than having to pay it all at once.

Broker fees had the potential to trap Boston residents into rents they can barely afford. When landlords raised rents, even if tenants found a cheaper apartment, they still needed thousands of dollars saved up to move in.

“You get stuck in these units that you can’t afford because the cost of moving to even a cheaper unit is prohibitive,” Martinez said.

With this new law, tenants have gained more bargaining power.

“If you have the ability to move, then you may be able to push back when a landlord won’t maintain the building or says, ‘I’m going to raise the rent,’” said Todd Kaplan, a senior attorney in the consumer rights unit of Greater Boston Legal Services.

Boston is undoubtedly in a housing crisis. There isn’t enough housing for the city’s population, and there are even fewer affordable places to live. Currently, the standard price for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is $3,522, more than double the national average for a similar-sized space, according to Apartments.com.

This law provides real material relief, but does not address the underlying issues of extremely high rent prices and a lack of housing options.

“The broker fee law change is important to help increase people’s mobility, but it doesn’t address the underlying factor that’s driving displacement, the real lack of homes for people of all income levels in all walks of life,” said Jesse Kanson-Benanav, the executive director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts.

Removing broker fees for renters doesn’t solve Boston’s housing problems, but it’s a statewide step in the right direction. The city has strategies to address the lack of housing, beginning inclusionary zoning initiatives and creating a Boston Acquisition Fund to preserve housing affordability. As residents move closer to municipal elections, housing is an issue that is top of mind for many voters.

“Lawmakers moved on this very quickly, and that is a really big win for tenants,” said Kaplan. “It shows that politicians are paying attention to this problem. It doesn’t solve all of the problems that tenants are facing, but it shows that the housing crisis is real and tenants are being listened to.”

Kanson-Benanav described a statewide poll done by Abundant Housing Massachusetts where Massachusetts voters were asked what the top issue facing the Commonwealth today is. He said most people responded with housing-related concerns.

“Housing is a very salient issue, both in this year’s municipal election in Boston and other cities that have elections this fall, when we get into the state elections in 2026, I don’t think it will go away,” Kanson-Benanav said. “This law is an important change. I’m hopeful that it will just help drive the conversation about other innovative strategies we can take to address our housing crisis.”

Full-Time Paralegal, Housing Unit – GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Accessible Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) seeks applications for a full-time Paralegal position in the Housing Unit. The Paralegal will support the full range of activities of the Housing Unit, with significant emphasis on coordination, planning, and implementation of a new eviction record sealing program.

The Eviction Sealing Program:

A new law that will go into effect on May 5, 2025, for the first time, will give tenants in Massachusetts the ability to seal an eviction record. Unfortunately, sealing is not automatic and will require tenants with qualified evictions to ask the court to remove the cases from the public record (and from being reported by consumer reporting agencies). GBLS was instrumental in advocating for this new law, and since it passed in the summer has been working with community and legal partners in preparing for its implementation.

Responsibilities:

The paralegal responsibilities will include leading community outreach and education; coordinating the work of staff, volunteers, and pro bono counsel in connecting with tenants looking for assistance with eviction records sealing. The position may also require doing work to support tenants living in public and subsidized housing, tenant organizations seeking to preserve affordable housing, shelter advocacy, legislative and administrative advocacy projects, impact litigation, and any other paralegal work of the Housing Unit.

Off-site travel or work outside traditional hours (Mon-Fri, 9-5) may be required. GBLS is a hybrid workplace and will allow work from home several days per week. GBLS provides reimbursement for work-related travel.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a candidate who can respond quickly and professionally to requests from applicants, clients, staff members, and external partners. Candidates must be able to work cooperatively on a team and have good attention to detail. Additionally, applicants should possess strong advocacy skills that include the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing. Candidates with lived experience of displacement and housing instability are strongly encouraged to apply. Fluency in one or more languages spoken by GBLS clients (e.g., Portuguese, Spanish, and Haitian Creole) is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary and benefits are based on a union scale and additional compensation for increased years of experience. A paralegal with 3 to 6 years of experience (including certain educational experiences) would earn between $49,000 to $52,000, with an additional $950 annual payment for second language ability. GBLS offers a generous benefits package including low-cost comprehensive health insurance, paid time off, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Application: Candidates should submit (1) a resume, and (2) a letter of interest, in PDF format, to the Human Resources Department via e-mail at jobs@gbls.org. Please refer to Job Code: HU-PARA when applying for this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after March 11, 2025.

GBLS values diversity and encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Administrative Secretary/Legal Assistant, CORI & Re-Entry Project and Elder, Health & Disability Unit – GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Accessible Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

GBLS seeks to fill an AS/LA position to serve 50% in the CORI & Re-entry Project and 50% in the Elder Health and Disability Unit. The Elder, Health, and Disability Unit represents elders, people with disabilities, and families to ensure that they have income, health care, and services needed to live independently in the community. The CORI & Re-entry Project (CRP) assists clients with criminal record sealing and works on policy issues to reduce the racially disparate impact and collateral consequences of the criminal legal system. This position is a hybrid position, and the AS/LA is expected to be in the office a minimum of 3 days per week.

The position will combine administrative and legal assistant work to support clients and advocacy staff and to facilitate the smooth functioning of the project and Unit. This work may include:

  • Obtaining intake and other information from clients;
  • Following up with clients to provide information, and referrals;
  • Preparing forms, letters, and other materials to advance clients’ legal cases;
  • Providing interpretation/translation if language skills permit;
  • Assisting with questions from new staff, interns, and volunteers;
  • Using GBLS’s case management system to enter case data, check for case conflicts, and compile information for grant reports;
  • Engaging in administrative tasks such as copying, scanning, preparing unit timesheets and expense reports, distributing mail, mailing documents, and maintaining well-organized supplies and shared workspaces.
  • Helping periodically with community events.

Qualifications:

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, time management, written and oral communication skills; strong attention to detail; enthusiasm for working as part of a team as well as independently; and the ability to learn new or updated technology and software. Fluency in a second language (especially Spanish) preferred but not required and proficiency with Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint) is strongly preferred.

Salary & Benefits

  • The salary range for an applicant with 4-6 years of experience is $47,000 to $49,000 with an additional $950 annual payment for second language ability, if applicable.
  • Starting salary is based on a union scale, determined by work experience and related education. GBLS offers a generous benefits package, including low-cost and comprehensive health insurance, retirement contribution, and paid time off.

How to Apply

Candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume to the Human Resources Team via email at jobs@gbls.org. Please refer to Job Code: CORI-EHD-ASLA when applying for this position. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled but applicants are encouraged to submit applications
by March 25, 2025.

GBLS values diversity and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Full-Time Paralegal, Asian Outreach Center – GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Accessible Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

GBLS provides free legal services and representation to clients in the Greater Boston area who cannot afford private legal representation.

The Asian Outreach Center provides bilingual and bicultural legal services and support for movement building to Asian Americans and Asian immigrants seeking access to justice. The Asian Outreach Center uses a community lawyering model to work with clients and grassroots organizations to advocate for the legal rights of indigent and Asian communities. We incorporate direct legal services, legislative work, advocacy, and litigation—in collaboration with organizing—to fight against inequitable systems disrupting low-income Asian immigrant communities. Our model enables us to respond to the day-to-day needs of the Asian American community and inspires our broader work against systemic inequality and oppression.

This full-time paralegal will handle cases and advocacy through the lens of community lawyering. The paralegal will be a generalist, providing legal assistance in a range of substantive law areas such as housing, immigration, employment, public benefits, and anti-Asian violence support. Core project areas that the paralegal will prioritize include immigrant rights and anti-displacement and gentrification. The paralegal will conduct community outreach and intake, provide legal education, collaborate with existing grassroots partners, and foster new relationships with grassroots groups.

Core Responsibilities:

  • Provide high quality representation to all clients with cultural humility and sensitivity;
  • Conduct interview and other communications with clients and 3rd parties to obtain initial information;
  • Support in-person and virtual community-based intakes within service area;
  • Determine the relevant questions and documents needed to assess and handle the case;
  • Obtain additional information and documents from clients, agencies, and other 3rd parties;
  • Prepare written communication for advocacy and other purposes, tailored to the context and the person(s) to which it is directed;
  • Under an attorney’s supervision, draft memoranda of fact and law for administrative-level advocacy and appeals;
  • Document all case work in the client’s case record in GBLS’s case management system;
  • Conduct outreach to clients and providers and other organizations that serve or involve our clients; and
  • Support the team’s systemic advocacy at the local and state level.

Qualifications:

  • Strong familiarity or background in the history of Greater Boston’s Asian American community, or willingness to learn about it;
  • Ability to respond quickly to emerging client needs;
  • Strong written and oral communication skills;
  • Ability to perform careful, detailed work;
  • Experience in legal or other advocacy work, or demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills;
  • Availability to work weekends or evenings, as needed but within reason, to accommodate client community needs and participate in community outreach; and
  • Proficiency in Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin) or another language prevalent among our clients.

The position is part of the Staff Association union. Salary is based on the union contract, with annual increases. Starting place on the salary scale is determined by work history and related experience. As of July 1, 2024, the salary range for an applicant with 4 to 6 years of experience is $50,000 – $52,000 with an additional $950 annual payment for second language ability. GBLS offers a generous benefits package, including 98% employer-paid health insurance, retirement
contributions, and generous paid time off (PTO) leave. Candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume to the Human Resources Team via e-mail at jobs@gbls.org. Please refer to Job Code: AOC-PARA when applying for this position. The deadline for applications is March 6, 2025, or until the position is filled.

GBLS values diversity and encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds.

Senior Attorney, Housing Unit – GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Accessible Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) seeks an experienced attorney to join its Housing Unit as a Senior Attorney, focusing on eviction defense and litigation. This role is ideal for candidates with at least seven (7) years of litigation experience who are committed to housing justice.

About the Housing Unit:

The Housing Unit consists of 30-40 advocates with varying levels of experience and expertise. The team works to preserve tenancies, increase access to affordable, stable, and healthy housing, and represent individuals facing eviction, termination of housing benefits, and other housing-related legal issues. The unit also collaborates with community organizations to expand affordable housing resources and minimize housing loss.

Responsibilities:

The Senior Attorney will supervise and mentor staff attorneys and paralegals, with an emphasis on building trial skills and case management—including conducting interviews, factual investigations, legal research, drafting legal arguments, negotiating with opposing counsel, and handling evidentiary hearings and trials. The senior attorney will also use individual cases to advance systemic changes and will help in creating training and educational materials for the use of Housing Unit’s advocates.

The position may also include some of the full range of activities of the Housing Unit, including collaboration with community groups to advocate for policy changes that support affordable housing; support for tenants who live in public and subsidized housing, helping tenant organizations preserve affordable housing, shelter advocacy, legislative and administrative advocacy projects, impact litigation, and any other work of the Housing Unit. Should funding for this position change, the attorney may be required to assume work in a different area of law within GBLS.

Qualifications:

Licensed to practice law in Massachusetts; at least seven (7) years of experience in legal services or similar advocacy settings; commitment to legal services work, community lawyering, and capacity-building within diverse client communities; experience handling systemic cases or projects, including legislative or administrative advocacy; strong leadership, team management, and mentoring skills; prior supervisory and housing law experience preferred; fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, or other languages spoken by GBLS clients preferred; Candidates with lived experience of displacement or gentrification are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary based on experience, starting at $89,000 annually for a senior attorney with seven years of legal practice; comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, generous paid time off, and a 403(b) retirement plan.

Application:

Applicants should submit the following in PDF format: (1) Resume, (2) Letter of interest, (3) Brief writing sample. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications should be sent via email to jobs@gbls.org with the subject line: Job Code: HU-SR-ATTY. Applications will be reviewed
on a rolling basis after March 11, 2025.

GBLS values diversity and encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.