Paralegal Casehandler, Housing Justice Tenant Defense (Brooklyn)

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking a Paralegal Casehandler to join the Brooklyn Neighborhood Office’s Housing Justice - Tenant Defense Unit to serve the borough of Brooklyn. The Paralegal Casehandler works on their own cases as well as with the Housing Staff Attorneys to resolve benefits and advocacy issues, including, but not limited to obtaining rent arrears and ongoing rental assistance through appropriate programs, agency advocacy, representation of clients at administrative hearings, and outreach and training for affected client communities and service providers. The Paralegal Casehandler is on the front lines of assisting individuals and families to avoid imminent eviction.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct intake/client interviews, provide advice and direct assistance, and assess requests for services
• Represent clients at administrative hearings at HRA or other appropriate forums
• Obtain rent arrears and ongoing rental assistance through FHEPS and other programs
• Handle a high volume of individual cases and respond to the needs of community-based organizations
• Work with staff attorneys and supervising attorneys to resolve the benefits issues involved with housing practice cases
• Prepare motion documents including client affidavits
• Conduct advocacy in eviction cases and termination hearings
• Develop community education materials for clients and other advocates
• Maintain case records
• Conduct virtual, courthouse-based, and off-site intake as needed, including during evening hours
• Conduct policy advocacy on behalf of clients
• 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
• Excellent written, oral advocacy, and computer skills
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and manage a large workload
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate successfully with other groups and organizations
• Commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people and immigrants

 

Preferred qualifications:  

• Experience assisting people in crisis is desirable, but not required
• Proficiency in languages other than English, especially Spanish, Mandarin, French Creole, Russian and/or Bengali is desirable, but not required

 

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: $62,400 - $95,555   

     

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 progr