Paralegal

Job Title: Paralegal

Job Location: Philadelphia, PA

Job Type: Legal – Civil

Organizational Information:

The Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) exists to meet the legal and advocacy needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. With a staff of 16 lawyers, paralegals and administrative professionals and a corps of 500 volunteer lawyers, paralegals, and law students, HAP engages in direct outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness in need of legal services. Established in 1990, the Homeless Advocacy Project is the only legal services organization dedicated to providing direct civil legal services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia.

The paralegal position’s job functions, essential duties, and responsibilities include:

• Handling a full caseload of federal disability benefits cases through the fast-track SOAR process. Duties include:

• Interviewing clients, establishing rapport, and maintaining contact until the conclusion of the case (typically 3-6 months).
• Obtaining, reviewing, and analyzing medical and other supporting records.
• Filing initial Social Security disability claims while maintaining an approval rate on par with organization standard (typically 80-90%).
• Advocating on behalf of clients in writing and over the phone with disability adjudicators and SSA representatives.
• Assisting other legal staff with SSI/SOAR-related matters as needed and/or on regularly scheduled intervals.
• Coordinating closely with supervisor and SOAR legal team to identify priorities and potential gaps in service, including regular attendance at weekly SOAR discussions, monthly legal team meetings, and other internal meetings.
• Adhering to applicable internal and professional responsibility standards.
• Assisting with outreach programs and helping to cultivate relationships with HAP’s partners in the community.
• Providing training and support to case managers and other community partners in SOAR- and broader SSI/SSDI-related matters.

• Assisting clients in other legal areas, engaging in advocacy, and providing organizational support, including:

• Attending legal clinics and performing client intakes, conducting relevant follow-up, and supporting the operation of the clinic under the supervision of the on-site HAP attorney, Director of Outreach and Intake, and Legal and Advocacy Director as applicable.
• Participating in the ongoing intake work at the organization as needed, including screening potential clients or addressing other legal matters arising from walk-ins, online or telephone intake under the supervision of the Director of Outreach and Intake and Legal and Advocacy Director.
• Participating in internal committee work or advocacy initiatives as needed.
• Supporting the development work of the organization as requested, including limited assistance with the identification, development and drafting of anonymized client stories that highlight HAP’s legal work.
• Attending regular all-staff meetings as well as legal team meetings and other committee meetings as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university (or equivalent practical experience)

• Self-motivated, highly proactive, and capable of taking independent ownership of tasks in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills

• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)

• Deep understanding of and sensitivity to the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness, living with mental illness, or recovering from substance use disorders

• Capacity to creatively identify, engage, and address the legal needs of hard-to-reach or underserved client communities

• Demonstrated commitment to racial, gender, and social justice

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Philadelphia’s social services landscape and community resources

• Direct experience navigating complex government bureaucracies and/or health management information systems

• Experience using case management software

• Fluency in Spanish

How to Apply:

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, candidates are urged to submit their materials as soon as possible but no later than December 18, 2026.

Please include (1) a current resume, and (2) a letter detailing your interest in the position, your qualifications, and what you hope to contribute to the organization.

Materials should be submitted electronically to Careers@haplegal.org in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

Salary is commensurate with experience based on a competitive public interest salary scale. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision, term life, short- and long-term disability, 403(b) retirement plan, and generous paid time off and holidays.

No phone calls, recruiters, or drop-ins please.

Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, citizenship, genetic information, or veteran status.

medical, dental, vision, term life, short- and long-term disability, 403(b) retirement plan, and generous paid time off and holidays.