Paralegal Advocate

Position Summary:

New Hampshire Legal Assistance (NHLA) seeks a full-time Paralegal Advocate for our Domestic Violence Advocacy Project (DVAP). This position may be based in NHLA’s Manchester, Claremont, or Berlin offices. NHLA offers comprehensive training for new Paralegal Advocates. With NHLA attorney supervision and as part of a vibrant DVAP team, Paralegal Advocates will assist low-income and older (age 60 and over) clients who are victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. This civil legal work focuses on protective order and family law cases.

The State of New Hampshire is currently operating a pilot project authorizing non-attorney paraprofessionals to represent clients in court in certain circumstances. Depending on qualifications and following training, the Paralegal Advocate may be eligible to participate in the pilot project and represent clients in court.

Extensive travel throughout New Hampshire is a requirement of the position (mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate is provided). NHLA offers hybrid (remote/in person) work arrangements to interested staff, typically permitting up to two days per week of regularly-scheduled remote work after an initial orientation period. Staff members are provided with the necessary equipment (such as laptop computers) to work from their homes.

The desired start date for this position is as soon as possible, ideally by Monday, May 5, 2025. The application process and timeline is described below.

NHLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies strictly with all federal and state employment laws, as well as our anti-discrimination policy.

Position Duties:

• Work as an integral part of the DVAP legal team (including attorneys, paralegal advocates and support staff) to provide legal services in civil protective order and family law cases for victim/survivor clients.
• Support DVAP attorney work through gathering information and documents and litigation support, including preparation of draft documents and extensive work with clients.
• Depending on qualifications, participate in the paraprofessional pilot project, including representing clients in court.
• After building relevant expertise, participate in community engagement efforts such as educational presentations and webinars.
• Learn and implement NHLA’s holistic, client-centered approach to civil legal aid, including language access, cultural competency, and trauma-informed practices.

Position Qualifications and Competencies:

• At least 2-4 years of prior relevant post-secondary education and/or work experience.
• Prior law-related work experience and/or law-related education, and/or prior work experience providing services to victims/survivors, preferred.
• Ability to travel routinely within New Hampshire.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally both orally and in writing.
• Ability to speak and write another language in addition to English, which is widely spoken in New Hampshire, is a plus. Additional compensation is available for staff members who are willing and able to serve as interpreters/translators on occasion.
• Current technology skills including familiarity with Office 365 and Adobe.
• Commitment to and interest in expanding knowledge about access about access to justice and poverty.

Position Salary/Benefits:

This is a full-time position. Full-time is defined as 37.5 hours per week. This position is considered non-exempt for the purpose of federal wage/hour law.

The anticipated salary for the position depends on prior law-related work experience, expected to range from $26.66 per hour/$52,000 per year (for candidates with 0 years of prior law-related work experience) to $29.09 per hour/$56,737 per year (for candidates with 5 years of prior law-related work experience). Higher compensation is available for candidates with more than 5 years of prior law-related work experience. After sufficient training and based on demonstrated skill, Paralegal Advocates may be eligible for compensation under NHLA’s Paralegal Advocate II job category, which offers higher compensation (starting at $30.68 per hour/$59,842 per year for candidates with the minimum two years of law-related experience). The position is eligible for the NHLA employee benefits package including medical/dental insurance, retirement plan, and generous paid time off.

How to Apply:

By Friday, April 11, 2025 at 5 PM, please send your resume with a cover email summarizing your interest in the position and your qualifications to: officemanager@nhla.org. Applications that do not include a cover email, or applications submitted other than by email, may not receive full consideration. We strongly encourage you to use your cover email to demonstrate your writing skills and showcase your qualifications.

In your cover email, please tell us in which office(s) (Manchester, Claremont, or Berlin) you would be willing to work. Please also feel welcome to share anything that will help us communicate respectfully with you, any communication access needs or reasonable accommodations requested during the hiring process, or any other relevant information.

Application Process and Timeline:

NHLA will appoint an Interview Committee including 2-3 NHLA staff members and the NHLA Human Resources Manager. NHLA occasionally asks people who are not NHLA staff members to serve on an Interview Committee.

We expect the Interview Committee to conduct first interviews with no more than 5 candidates. Interviews are 45 minutes in duration and typically scheduled between 9 AM and 5 PM on weekdays. We can accommodate other scheduling preferences if necessary. Candidates selected for first interviews will receive a list of the interview questions at least 24 hours in advance. No other questions will be asked at the interview, but it is possible that not all questions will be asked if we run out of time. We will leave at least 10 minutes for candidate questions at the conclusion of the interview. For candidates who speak a language other than English, a portion of the interview may be conducted in that language, with interpretation provided for other participants as needed.

The Interview Committee will recommend no more than 2 finalist candidates to the Executive Director for second interviews. Second interviews are 30 minutes or shorter in duration and typically scheduled between 9 AM and 5 PM on weekdays. We can accommodate other scheduling preferences if necessary. The Executive Director may conduct the second interview alone or with 1 other NHLA staff member, who may be a member of the Interview Committee. Questions are not provided in advance for second interviews. We will leave at least 10 minutes for candidate questions.

After the second interview, we will ask a single finalist candidate to provide 3 references and a brief writing sample of no more than 10 pages. We will contact the 3 references as quickly as possible, asking all references the same questions. Candidates with disabilities who wish to request reasonable accommodations should they be offered the position are invited to request them, in writing, at this stage of the process.

Based on information gathered in the entire hiring process, we will make an offer to a single candidate with salary and benefits information. The offer is contingent on completion of a criminal record background check as well as a records check through the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services State Registry. Not all criminal records are disqualifying.

Once a candidate has accepted the position, we will notify all candidates who had a first interview (or a first and second interview) that they have not been selected for the position.

Please note that NHLA does not expect to receive thank you notes from candidates selected for first or second interviews and does not place any weight in the hiring process on receiving (or not receiving) thank you notes.

About New Hampshire Legal Assistance:

NHLA is a statewide nonprofit law firm that helps low-income and older individuals and families with civil legal problems that impact their basic needs, such as housing, economic security, and safety from violence. As a civil legal aid provider, we represent clients in all of New Hampshire’s state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies. We advocate for low-income and older people in the New Hampshire Legislature and offer training and education to our client communities as well as fellow service providers. NHLA is a cornerstone New Hampshire nonprofit in our 54th year of operation.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $26.66 - $29.09 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Free parking
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Travel reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Manchester, NH 03104

Salary : $52,000 - $59,842