Paralegal, Youth Guardianship Project

About the Organization

The Children's Law Center (CLC) is a non-profit legal services organization that represents children in custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, family offense, and related child protective (abuse or neglect) proceedings in the Family Courts and the Integrated Domestic Violence Parts of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and in appeals therefrom. CLC represents approximately 5,000 children annually in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, providing holistic and zealous representation and support in the Court, the community and the legislature.

CLC's mission is to empower our clients, prevent trauma and promote wellbeing.

Job Description

Under the direction of the Youth Guardianship Project Trial Supervisor, the YGP Paralegal will work in a team environment to assist with case preparation. This can include conducting interviews with young clients, assisting in preparing affidavits, motions, and other documents, performing legal research on law-related matters, interviewing collateral sources, and other legal administrative tasks as assigned.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Accurately following CLC practices and procedures, and as part of a team, the Paralegal will:

• Assist with case and trial preparation, including proofreading, cite checking (both factual and legal), and preparing documents, including affidavits, briefs and motions, for filing;
• Research, obtain, digest/outline relevant records, court files, and other documents;
• Prepare legal documents, including subpoenas, stipulated agreements, proposed orders, and correspondence;
• Serve and file legal documents and perform related activities;
• Conduct interviews and otherwise gather information, as needed for case preparation, and prepare detailed notes/reports reflecting those interviews;
• Maintain detailed records of his/her activities;
• Perform other duties, as requested and assigned.

Key Competencies and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with a preference for legal internship or coursework experience.
• Knowledge of Family and Supreme Court particularly in the areas of custody, visitation, domestic violence, child protective, civil or criminal procedure law preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in research (law or related topics).
• Persistent and meticulous attention to detail along with analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal), time management, collaboration, and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work independently demonstrating excellent judgment, diplomacy, professionalism while working in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to prioritize requests, track and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook including calendaring, tasks, etc.), Adobe, social networking sites, Internet searches and online resources including knowledge of databases, etc.
• Ability to exercise complete discretion when working with confidential and sensitive information.
• Proficiency in Spanish preferred.

Salary Range & Union Membership

The expected salary range for this position ranges from $63,100 - $82,903.75 annually. Salary offers, pursuant to the CLC Collective Bargaining Agreement, are based on the number of years employed by an entity involved with legal services to perform legal or related work that requires proficiency in research (law or related topics) or the preparation of documents for legal matters.

Hybrid Schedule

Full-time employees shall work in-person no less than two (2) days per week, plus up to an additional two (2) days per month that are designated as team days.

At The Children’s Law Center, we provide a comprehensive benefits package to support your wellbeing. Our offerings include health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan including employer contribution and match, paid time off, and opportunities for professional growth. We are dedicated to creating a supportive and balanced work environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally. As an employee of The Children's Law Center, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs. For more information, visit https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

As an equal opportunity employer, The Children's Law Center is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or marital status.

Proficiency in Spanish preferred.