General Intake Paralegal

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is a non-profit legal services program primarily funded by the Legal Services Corporation that serves low-income residents of Philadelphia County and farmworkers throughout Pennsylvania. For Philadelphia residents who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, our legal assistance is often crucial to protecting their homes, their children, their safety, and their livelihood.

PLA seeks to immediately hire a full-time paralegal for its General Intake Unit. The unit consists of three paralegals and a part-time paralegal fellow who are currently supervised by one of PLA’s Managing Attorneys. The primary focus of the position is to conduct telephone interviews with prospective clients during which a determination of financial eligibility and the identification of the legal problem(s) are made. Paralegals complete referrals to pro bono agencies and provide advice and brief services under the supervision of an attorney. The ideal candidate will possess excellent knowledge of PLA practice areas and knowledge of other community resources for appropriate referrals. There is intensive in-house training, and close supervision will be provided. Paralegals may be asked to conduct face-to-face interviews with applicants when PLA returns to the office environment.

So long as the pandemic continues, the successful candidate may be working from home in this position until further notice. When normal business operations resume, the position will be located at the offices of Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Until the end of the pandemic, all training will be done through video conferencing. Applicants will need to have their own phone with a google voice account, a secure laptop or desktop computer and a robust internet connection. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or the equivalent. A college degree is preferred.
• Strong communication and interviewing skills.
• Ability to interact and communicate calmly with people.
• Ability to analyze complex factual scenarios and, after training, identify the legal problem.
• A commitment to improving the well-being of low-income communities.
• Maturity, self-motivation, and ability to adapt quickly.
• Prior work or volunteer experience at a non-profit serving low-income clients is preferred.
• Strong writing and problem solving skills.
• Ability to speak, read, and write a second language preferred, but not required.