What are the responsibilities and job description for the Intake Specialist Paralegal position at NYLAG?
About NYLAG:
Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combating economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 350 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.
Job description
The Community Access Project Unit (CAP) has an immediate opening for an intake specialist paralegal to work in the Safety and Stability Project, a community-based access to justice project. CAP encompasses a number of innovative projects that work within under-resourced communities to bring free, civil legal services to individuals in New York City and Long Island. Through the CAP Projects, New Yorkers in need of legal help can overcome obstacles such as geographic isolation, health and mobility issues, and childcare concerns.
The Safety and Stability Project works with various UJA sites across New York City, Long Island and Westchester to connect community members with Housing, Immigration, Family Law, and Financial Counseling needs with legal assistance at NYLAG. This paralegal will be responsible for processing and supporting referrals from more than 15 UJA partner sites across the city, conducting intakes, and managing internal referrals to provide clients with integrated legal services. The paralegal will work directly with the partner organization to provide follow-up on referrals, train partners on referral procedures, and respond to questions. The paralegal will support other CAP projects as capacity allows.
Duties and Responsibilities
Qualifications
NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
Employment type:
☒ Full-time
Professional Level:
☒ Entry Level
Salary Range: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $52,571 and $56,835.
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.
Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.
Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.
NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.
Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combating economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 350 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.
Job description
The Community Access Project Unit (CAP) has an immediate opening for an intake specialist paralegal to work in the Safety and Stability Project, a community-based access to justice project. CAP encompasses a number of innovative projects that work within under-resourced communities to bring free, civil legal services to individuals in New York City and Long Island. Through the CAP Projects, New Yorkers in need of legal help can overcome obstacles such as geographic isolation, health and mobility issues, and childcare concerns.
The Safety and Stability Project works with various UJA sites across New York City, Long Island and Westchester to connect community members with Housing, Immigration, Family Law, and Financial Counseling needs with legal assistance at NYLAG. This paralegal will be responsible for processing and supporting referrals from more than 15 UJA partner sites across the city, conducting intakes, and managing internal referrals to provide clients with integrated legal services. The paralegal will work directly with the partner organization to provide follow-up on referrals, train partners on referral procedures, and respond to questions. The paralegal will support other CAP projects as capacity allows.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage referrals from partner social service agencies through the UJA Community Legal Assistance Program and distribute to NYLAG-wide projects.
- Conduct initial intake calls and monitoring any necessary follow-up, including gathering documents and referrals.
- Work closely with partner organizations to schedule attorney presentations, clinics, and community education.
- Schedule attorney visits with partner sites.
- Work on-site at partner sites to conduct in-person intakes and outreach as needed.
- Entering and maintaining data in case management system and other electronic record keeping systems.
- Assess project outcomes for mid-year and end-of-year grant reports.
- Provide oral and written translations for Spanish and/or Russian speaking clients.
- Assist case handlers on client-related matters.
- Design and update training materials for partners on referral systems.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
- Fluency in Spanish and/or Russian is required.
- Demonstrated interest in social justice work.
- Ability to work in and value a collaborative team model.
- Experience working with diverse populations.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, writing and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and under time constraints.
- Familiarity with Excel and Legal Server is preferred.
NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
Employment type:
☒ Full-time
Professional Level:
☒ Entry Level
Salary Range: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $52,571 and $56,835.
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.
Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.
Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.
NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.
