Part-Time Paralegal Workplace Justice Project Team

Part-Time Paralegal

Public Justice Center

Baltimore, Maryland

June 2025

Be a critical member in a team of dedicated social justice advocates! The Public Justice Center seeks a part-time paralegal for the Workplace Justice Project.

The Public Justice Center (“PJC”) and the Workplace Justice Project

The PJC pursues systemic change to build a just society. Founded in Maryland in 1985, the PJC uses legal advocacy tools to pursue social justice, economic and racial equity, and fundamental human rights for people who are struggling to provide for their basic needs. The PJC is a civil legal aid office that provides advice and representation to low-income clients, advocates before legislatures and government agencies, and collaborates with community and advocacy organizations. For more about PJC, visit our website: www.publicjustice.org.

The PJC’s Workplace Justice Project seeks to advance justice, equity, and worker power in the workplace. We approach this mission through a broad array of strategies, including representing low-wage workers in wage-theft suits in state and federal courts; providing know-your-rights education to workers and community groups; and engaging in worker-focused policy advocacy before the Maryland General Assembly and state agencies, in partnership with other advocates and organizations. We also make space to take on additional work outside of these areas as needed. We work closely with unions, grassroots membership organizations, and other community groups and follow the lead of the individuals most impacted by injustice. We focus on industries where wage theft is common and where people of color comprise a disproportionate part of the workforce.

The paralegal will report to the lead attorney of the Workplace Justice team. We are seeking to fill this position as soon as possible.

Examples of the Workplace Justice Project’s successes include:

• Obtaining $412,099.08 for 13 paratransit drivers who had been misclassified as independent contractors and subjected to egregious wage theft.
• Prevailing after a week-long bench trial and recovering $93,450 on behalf of 11 construction workers who worked on a fitness facility for weeks to months with no pay at all.
• Passing Maryland’s Home Care Worker’s Rights Act, requiring home care agencies to correctly classify their home care workers as employees – rather than misclassify them as independent contractors – in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement for the care.
• Obtaining a Fourth Circuit appellate decision establishing a new, employee-friendly standard for joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act, making it harder for employers to skirt their responsibilities to employees through layers of subcontracting.
• Helping draft and lead the successful advocacy campaign for the Healthy Working Families Act, Maryland’s sick and safe leave law.

Primary job responsibilities include:

• Assisting attorneys with litigation support including case investigation, researching public records, filing legal pleadings, drafting and translating documents between Spanish and English, assisting in document review and document management, and data entry and reporting.
• Conducting telephone and in-person in Spanish and English, interviewing clients in Spanish and English opening and maintaining electronic and paper case files, participating in fact gathering and appropriate referral, brief service, or advocacy.
• Conducting Know Your Rights trainings and community outreach in Spanish and English.
• Assisting with coalition building and policy advocacy and research projects on prioritized subjects as needed.
• Participating thoughtfully in team meetings, evaluations, and the development of the team workplan.
• Providing general administrative and office support for nonprofit law office on a limited basis.
• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Skills and Experience:

The following qualifications are valued for this position. Applicants should also identify other related or supplementary skills and experiences.

• Ability to speak, comprehend, and write Spanish and English fluently.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited school or a combination of Associate’s Degree, Paralegal Certificate, and/or demonstrated skills in writing, research, analysis, and communications.
• Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of the Public Justice Center.
• Understanding of the principles of race equity analysis and applying them to the PJC’s organizational life and to our work.
• Experience with low-income, oppressed, or exploited communities or people.
• Ability to sensitively respond to people seeking services in crisis situations.
• Experience in law office/ litigation support and case management.
• Excellent use of Microsoft Word and Excel; database programs a plus.
• Ability and interest in learning new computer programs.
• Strong problem
• solving abilities, time management, and organizational skills; ability to manage complex assignments and work collegially with staff.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with others both in and outside of the PJC, including clients, other advocacy organizations, coalition members, governmental officials, and attorneys.

Compensation: This is a part-time, non-exempt position that will require 20 hours in a workweek. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required. This position is based in Baltimore and may require local travel. The salary range for a part-time paralegal begins at $26,000 and increases with experience. For example, a candidate with 3 years of relevant experience would be offered $29,000. A language bonus of $1,500/year is given to Spanish/English bilingual staff. An excellent cafeteria benefit package in the annual amount of $8,400 is also provided. This package offers health, dental, disability and life insurance, and retirement options. Cafeteria benefits packages give employees flexibility to choose how to direct their benefits. For example, this package can cover 100% of employee healthcare premiums, but an employee can choose to direct those funds towards retirement if they already have health insurance, or can have remaining funds added to the employee’s taxable salary. PJC employees receive at least 20 days of paid leave, with increases based on length of tenure, 10 paid holidays, and 15 days of sick leave annually. This part-time position would receive prorated leave benefits.

Applications: We will accept applications and conduct interviews on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but priority consideration will be given to applications received by July 15, 2025. Applications will be accepted by email only. To apply, please submit (1) a cover letter explaining your interest, (2) a resume, (3) a short writing sample, and (4) the names and telephone numbers of three references. Please send applications to: Nicole Tortoriello at tortoriellon@publicjustice.org with “Paralegal Application from [your name]” in the subject line.

Hybrid Work: Most PJC positions, including this one, generally have the option of working in our office in downtown Baltimore City or at home. The paralegal will be required to work in the office, the courts, or other meetings as necessary.

Physical/Mental Demands and Office Environment

The physical/mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The Public Justice Center is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage Black, Latine, Indigenous, and other applicants of color, people with disabilities, and other people historically underrepresented in the practice of law to apply.