Member Services Paralegal

Casa&Co. - Hyattsville, MD

Full-time - Entry Level

Hyattsville, MD

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers

About the position

CASA's mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. The Member Services Paralegal plays a crucial role in supporting the Legal Department by providing general, case, and project support. This position is integral to advocating for CASA members and working alongside them in various capacities. The paralegal will collaborate with a dynamic team of attorneys, organizers, advocates, and social service staff in a friendly and fast-paced environment. The legal program at CASA operates under the principles of Justice is the goal, law is a means, emphasizing creative strategies to combat injustices identified by constituents. The paralegal will be on the front lines, assisting clients with legal issues in areas such as housing, employment, and immigration, while also engaging in community education and outreach efforts. This role requires a commitment to high-quality customer service and the ability to handle urgent situations effectively. The paralegal will also be responsible for maintaining documentation of client interactions and supporting CASA's power-building activities by referring clients to the community organizing department. Overall, this position is vital for ensuring that the needs and aspirations of CASA members are met, contributing to the broader mission of justice and liberation.

Responsibilities

• Solve problems presented by CASA members and others identified by the organization as high-priority or urgent.
• Conduct initial client intake and case assessment; work creatively to assist clients, including assisting with legal work, research, writing, advocacy, negotiations & referrals.
• Under supervision of CASA attorney, assist clients with resolving legal issues in the areas of housing, employment and/or immigration, and other related tasks.
• Administratively support legal team by ordering office supplies, coordinating volunteers, case file management, accounting, and publicizing legal services.
• Compile and publish information in one or more areas of expertise by writing referral guides, updating on-line guides and writing community education publications.
• Develop and cultivate network of partners who can provide case assistance, including by creating and maintaining an up-to-date referral list for clients, and by serving as a liaison between CASA and relevant partners.
• Conduct community education 'Know Your Rights' (KYR) sessions and community outreach.
• Maintain documentation of all client contact and service provision.
• Support CASA's power building activities, including by referring clients to CASA's community organizing Department and collaborating with other Departments to achieve organizational objectives and advance relevant campaigns.
• Attend on-going training workshops relevant to work.
• Compile monthly reports with statistics and written narrative explanations of activities and results.
• Participate in annual planning; compile and report statistic and narratives regarding clients/cases; identify spokespeople for campaigns and media.
• Provide high quality customer service, interactions and responses to all members, partner organizations, vendors, visitors, callers and any other individual or organization you may encounter in your role with CASA.
• Support the development and expansion of CASA membership program and services.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Other duties assigned by supervisor related to position.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree or minimum of two years of experience performing related work.
• Knowledge of legal ethics rules, including the boundary between legal assistance and legal advice, and consistent adherence to those rules.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel and other databases, and willingness to learn other needed computer programs.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (written and spoken).
• Excellent customer service skills and ability to handle changing situations and walk-in and phone requests.
• Quick learner, able to prioritize tasks in stressful situations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience providing legal services to immigrant or low-income communities.

Nice-to-haves

• Familiarity with Salesforce is a plus.
• French is a plus.