Temp Staff Paralegal Consumer Defense - Bilingual Spanish Required (Hybrid)

$45,989 - $69,514/Yr

Legal Aid Society Of Orange County - Santa Ana, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Santa Ana, CA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Consumer Defense Team Staff Paralegal will support low-income residents and seniors by managing consumer defense-related matters under attorney supervision. This full-time, temporary position involves preparing cases for trial, facilitating workshops, and maintaining detailed case notes. The role emphasizes community engagement and collaboration within a diverse team, aiming to provide high-quality legal aid.

Responsibilities

• Maintain caseload of consumer defense-related matters, under attorney supervision.
• Work with attorney to prepare cases for trial.
• Participate in negotiation & settlement discussions with adverse parties and their legal representatives, under attorney supervision.
• Prepare for, facilitate, and provide interpretation for presentations at weekly workshops in Norwalk and Santa Ana.
• Prepare legal work under the supervision of an attorney.
• Maintain detailed and accurate case notes and timekeeping in case management system (LegalServer).
• Assist attorney with intake and initial client appointments.
• Prepare and maintain client files, electronic and/or physical.
• Interview clients and efficiently communicate with clients including accurately relaying legal advice provided by the attorney.
• Prepare legal forms, pleadings, memoranda, correspondence, and other legal documents.
• Assist with citation checking.
• Assist attorneys with case investigation, witness interviews, factual and legal research.
• Perform various clerical duties such as record-keeping, document copying, e-Filing, etc.
• Preserve confidentiality of attorney-client relationship.
• Engage in interpretation and translation for attorneys.
• Work with community groups, conduct outreach, and provide community education presentations and materials.
• Work with a multi-cultural perspective of inclusion and diversity.
• Work with and mentor paralegal and law students, interns, and volunteers.
• May be required to work at clinics and/or workshops located in local courts, CLA SoCal offices, or at partner agencies.
• Perform other duties as required to meet the needs of the organization.

Requirements

• Paralegal certificate, paralegal degree or Bachelor's degree and a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney.
• Knowledge of Civil Litigation and Consumer Defense - Preferred.
• Experience working in a high-volume environment - Preferred.
• Knowledge of legal software programs used to prepare California Judicial Council Forms - Preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking proficiency - Required.
• Valid driver's license, reliable vehicle, active insurance policy or other ability to travel frequently in and around the service area for representation and to engage with clients and community partners - Required.
• Strong technical skills; including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Excellent analytical, communication, listening skills, and writing skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Self-motivated, ability to learn quickly, initiative to problem-solve.
• Capacity to meet strict deadlines.
• Great organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.
• Empathetic and energetic attitude while working with others.
• Ability to interact with a wide range of clients utilizing client-centered lawyering and trauma-informed frameworks.
• Ability to model CLA SoCal's values (compassion, collaboration, trust, accountability, equity) in the performance of job duties - Required.
• Commitment to CLA SoCal's mission - Required.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment before date of hire.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of Civil Litigation and Consumer Defense - Preferred.
• Experience working in a high-volume environment - Preferred.
• Knowledge of legal software programs used to prepare California Judicial Council Forms - Preferred.

Benefits

• Paid holidays
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• 401(k)
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Life insurance
• 16 paid holidays a year
• Vacation, personal time, and sick leave on the first day
• Law School Loan Reimbursement program
• Monetary bonus for bilingual proficiency