Organization Overview:
Lakeshore Legal Aid serves low-income people, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in a holistic manner to address clients’ legal issues and improve our communities. Lakeshore provides free direct legal representation in southeast Michigan and the thumb and client intake, advice, and brief legal services throughout Michigan via our attorney-staffed hotline. Our practice areas include housing, family, consumer, elder, education, and public benefits law.
Position Overview:
Lakeshore Legal Aid is seeking a legal assistant who will support attorneys who advocate and litigate on behalf of clients facing legal problems. Legal assistants will greet clients, provide client screening, intake of new client matters, and obtain detailed information from clients about their case. Under the supervision of an attorney, Legal Assistants prepare memoranda, reply to information and advise, and otherwise assist in providing legal service to eligible Lakeshore Legal Aid clients as directed.
General Task Areas:
•Interview clients, record the nature of the legal problem, the client’s anticipated problem resolution, what the client expects the office to do and by when, and present the information to one or more attorneys according to office case acceptance procedures or process files according to partner program referral protocols.
•Open client case files and assist in case processing and statistics as required.
•Gather, process and upload faxes and documents for current or potential clients.
•Gather documents and obtain information from current or potential clients and third parties.
•Sort, distribute, and post mail as necessary.
•Under the supervision of an Attorney, obtain more detailed information from clients about their cases, prepare notes or memoranda summarizing cases, prepare documents or correspondence relating to cases, and provide clients with more detailed information (written or oral).
•Prepare or assist in the preparation of legal pleadings and documents, letters, and other tasks for attorney litigation support. Operation of all office equipment (computers, copier, phone systems, postage meter, etc.), including use of software programs necessary to generate required documents and reports, voicemail, email, text, and access to internet resources.
•Assist with general clerical tasks such as supplies, copying, report preparation, word- processing, file preparation and maintenance, file closing, and general filing.
•Assist with court filing, document delivery or pick-up, and other errands as required.
•Perform other work-related duties as assigned by the supervising attorney, a director, CEO, or a CEO designee.
Qualifications:
•High School Diploma, GED, or its equivalent and at least two years of relevant advanced education, or at least two years of relevant work experience serving legal clients.
•Demonstrated interest in the area of poverty law and working with low-income individuals.
•Able to be empathetic and understand the diverse clients of the poverty community.
•Ability to deal effectively with all people under difficult circumstances.
•Dependable transportation for travel to intake sites, hearings, meetings and trainings.
•Experience or aptitude working with appropriate office technology, including telephone systems, copiers, word processing software, report generation software, internet research, client database systems, etc.
•Willingness and ability to adapt to changing office demands.
•Ability to work independently or collaborate with co-workers
•Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
Salary
Starting salary is $18.60 and is commensurate with qualifications and includes excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability, retirement plan, and paid time off.
To apply, submit your cover letter and resume at our website www.lakeshorelegalaid.org
** Do not delay. Applications accepted until March 1, 2024, or until the position is filled. **
LLA values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.
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