Paralegal - Kinship Care

$34,500 - $34,500/Yr

Management Information Exchange - Atlanta, GA

Full-time - Entry Level

Atlanta, GA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

Atlanta Legal Aid Society is seeking a dedicated Paralegal to join its Kinship Care Unit located in downtown Atlanta. This non-profit law firm is committed to representing low-income individuals across various civil legal matters, including family law, housing, consumer rights, public benefits, education, and health law. The Kinship Care Unit specifically focuses on stabilizing family relationships for children living with non-parent caregivers, whether they are relatives or fictive kin. The unit provides assistance with adoptions, minor guardianships, custody issues, and other family-related legal matters, serving the five-county Metro area and offering some state-wide support. The current team in the Kinship Care Unit includes a managing attorney, four staff attorneys, and one intake paralegal, creating a collaborative environment aimed at providing essential legal services to vulnerable populations. As a Paralegal, you will play a crucial role in supporting the legal team by providing primary litigation support, backup intake assistance, and managing cases related to minor guardianship, third-party custody, adoption, visitation, public benefits, and education. Your responsibilities will include drafting and preparing legal pleadings, filing cases in court (both in-person and electronically), assisting attorneys with document execution, preparation, organization, and trial binders, notarization (if you are not already a notary public, you must be willing to become one), and mailing. You will also conduct client interviews to gather secondary case information, manage case handling under attorney supervision, prepare closing letters, draft conflict letters, and maintain accurate data management by entering new case information into multiple databases. Additionally, you will track cases to ensure proper documentation is collected and update funding codes, manage files by scanning documents into the client database, and assist with the timely review of closed case files for the Managing Attorney. Other paralegal and administrative tasks may be assigned as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide primary litigation support for various family law cases.
• Assist with backup intake support and case management for minor guardianship, custody, and adoption cases.
• Draft and prepare legal pleadings and file cases in court or electronically.
• Assist attorneys during document execution and preparation, including trial binders and notarization.
• Interview clients to gather secondary case information and provide advice under attorney supervision.
• Prepare closing letters and draft conflict letters as needed.
• Manage data entry and case tracking in multiple databases.
• File and archive closed cases, ensuring proper documentation is gathered.
• Assist with the review of closed case files for the Managing Attorney.
• Perform other paralegal and administrative tasks as required.

Requirements

• An undergraduate degree or paralegal certificate is preferred but not required.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in word processing and data entry.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets is required.
• Excellent writing, communication, and listening skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients and their families.
• Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team.
• Adaptability and appreciation of diversity in the workplace.
• Demonstrated interest in or experience working with low-income individuals.
• Ready access to a working vehicle is required.
• Knowledge of family law, education law, and poverty law is preferred.
• Experience with law office management software is valued.
• Proficiency in languages other than English and willingness to improve language skills are highly valued.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of family law, education law, and poverty law.
• Experience with law office management software.
• Proficiency in languages other than English.

Benefits

• Salary starting at $34,500+, depending on experience.
• Annual salary increases based on a salary scale.
• 13 paid holidays per year.
• 6 weeks of paid time off annually.
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Health, life, and long/short-term disability insurance.
• Partial payment for dependent health insurance.
• Salary reduction option for a flexible spending account.
• Educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month after set off of other loan reimbursement amounts.
• Voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with 3% match.
• Hybrid work schedule allowing 2 days of remote work weekly, subject to management approval after probation.