Bay Area Legal Services - Tampa, FL
posted 1 day ago
About the position
Bay Area Legal Services (BALS) is seeking to fill a full-time Legal Administrative Assistant position on their Volunteer Lawyer's Program Team. This position is located in Downtown Tampa and involves recruiting volunteer attorneys to assist clients through self-help clinics and/or direct representation in civil matters including family law, bankruptcy, contracts, probate, guardianships, and other legal matters. The role requires a substantial degree of independence and responsibility, with a high degree of initiative and interaction with volunteer attorneys and clients, as well as extensive use of computer and information systems. The ideal candidate should be responsible, reliable, and trustworthy, sharing the commitment to BALS' mission and vision, and willing to abide by the five core values of the organization.
Responsibilities
- Open, stamp, and handle all correspondence addressed to the VLP.
- Order supplies for the entire team.
- Process check requests and maintain copiers.
- Keep master calendar for the team and send status request emails to attorneys with an open VLP or Community Counsel case.
- Respond to attorney and client inquiries.
- Schedule and set up trainings for volunteers for Intake and the Domestic Violence Assistance Program.
- Reserve rooms for clinics and coordinate volunteer opportunities with volunteer attorneys.
- Send reminder emails to volunteer attorneys and clients, and set up Zoom meetings for virtual clinics.
- Ensure all case documents are provided to volunteers prior to the clinic.
- Follow up with BALS team referrals and keep a referral log.
- Process applications for services and enter data into Legal Server and other logs.
- Open and close cases in Legal Server and set up files according to compliance requirements.
- Communicate with clients and volunteers regarding case matters and prepare opening, thank you, and closing letters.
- Enter pro bono time in Legal Server for volunteer attorneys.
- Serve as back-up for the Case Referral Manager during any absences.
- Assist in gathering statistics, award nominations, sending invitations, preparing name tags, and mailing letters and commemorative pins for the Pro Bono Awards Ceremony.
- Ensure that closed cases meet compliance standards.
- Assist the Pro Bono Director with the Circuit Pro Bono Committee's Annual Report, Quarterly Reports, and LSC reports.
- Attend Hillsborough County Bar Association Luncheons and staff VLP table at networking events.
- Conduct monthly phone conferences with Community Counsel Project Director to discuss cases, volunteer attorney recruitment, and coordination of Nonprofit Business Legal Advice Clinic.
- Perform other duties as designated by the Pro Bono Director.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or Equivalent Certificate of Completion (GED) with 3 years of experience as an administrative assistant and 1 year in a Legal Administrative Assistant or Legal Administrative Support Position.
- Intermediate level proficiency with MS Office software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills, very detailed and deadline oriented.
- Ability to interview clients to determine essential facts and issues regarding their legal problems.
- Ability to work responsibly and independently, being a contributing team member, and comfortable with case management and organizing files and data.
- Ability and willingness to work in close contact with staff on legal problems of clients and to accept supervision and instruction.
- Sympathetic and compassionate understanding of the social, economic, and legal issues faced by low-income individuals with limited access to such services.
Nice-to-haves
- Work experience in a law firm
- Bilingual in English, Spanish, or other languages
- Experience working with low-income populations.
Benefits
- Starting hourly rate for external applicants is $21.80/hr. (increases based on relevant experience).
- Reimbursement for travel expenses (mileage etc.).
- Comprehensive benefit package including a 4% match for the 403b retirement plan with immediate vesting.
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability coverage and more.
- Generous time off with 13 paid holidays and three (3) weeks' vacation for the 1st year of employment.
- 37.5 hour work week.
