Paralegal – Kinship Legal Services Program

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

Baltimore, Maryland

Paralegal – Kinship Legal Services Program

(Full-time, non-exempt)

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), founded in 1981, is the oldest and largest volunteer legal services organization in Maryland. The mission of MVLS is to remove barriers to justice through free civil legal help, community engagement, and advocacy for equitable laws. Our vision is for a fair legal system that is free of injustice and equitably serves underrepresented Marylanders. We achieve this goal primarily through our core pro bono program and more targeted programs that serve specialized legal needs. For more program information, visit our website: www.mvlslaw.org. This position focuses on screening clients for acceptance into the MVLS program and matching them with volunteers.

MVLS’ core values are teamwork, passion for MVLS’ mission, commitment to clients, volunteers, and community partners, initiative and commitment to eliminate systemic barriers to justice based on race and economic disparities. MVLS is committed to fostering an inclusive culture in the workplace. Our work to end barriers to justice starts with increasing the diversity of our staff to better reflect the communities we serve.

Job Summary:

Supports the Kinship Legal Services Program including conducting client intake, assisting the program staff attorney with legal work, matching cases with volunteers, and coordinating with KinCare Center staff. The Kinship Legal Services Program will provide legal services to families participating in informal kinship care, primarily through the Baltimore City KinCare Center. This project is in partnership with Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS). The attorney and program paralegal will work individually with families to remove legal barriers that threaten family, financial and housing stability. This position reports to the Kinship Program staff attorney, and has anticipated funding at a minimum through 2028.

Job Responsibilities:

• Participate in on-site legal screenings at the KinCare Center in east Baltimore, providing support by directing clients through the process and reviewing applications. 
• Work with clients and KinCare Center staff to obtain necessary documents and provide follow-up. 
• Prepare and file legal documents as appropriate, under supervision of the program staff attorney
• Coordinate level of service and case assignments with staff attorneys.
• Perform case reviews and workups for cases before they are placed with volunteers.
• Place cases with volunteers.
• Develop proficiency using MVLS case management system, LegalServer
• Track each client’s case process in Legal Server including entering and maintaining client applications, court documents, financial eligibility documents, and important correspondence. 
• Keep track of each client’s case status.
• Assist with preparing biweekly and monthly report to BCDSS and DHS.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.

Skills:

• Client-centered customer service skills are essential to success in this position.
• Excellent computer, data entry, and organization skills
• Must be detail-oriented
• Must possess ability to deal with difficult clients in crisis
• Works well with others; a team player
• Strong written and oral communication skills essential
• Spanish language skills a plus (includes salary increase for Spanish language proficiency)

Experience & Education:

• 2 years of administrative, customer service, or legal experience
• 2 years of college or paralegal certificate from accredited institution is a plus
• Computer and data entry experience required
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of programs, i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel.
• Demonstrated commitment through work experience, lived experience or volunteer experience to communities, such as: Children, Domestic workers, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and refugees, Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQ people, People of color, People with disabilities, People with HIV/AIDS, Sex workers, Victims of crime and abuse, and Women and girls

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range is $45,000 – $50,000 per year commensurate on experience with excellent benefits including: 2 health insurance plans to choose from (MVLS fully covers the monthly premium for individual coverage), dental and vision insurance, a flexible spending plan to reimburse employees with pre-tax dollars for out of pocket medical expenses and eligible child care costs, group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long term disability coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% contribution from MVLS, a monthly commuter stipend equal to the value of an MTA pass, 20 vacation days, 2 personal days,10 sick days and 16 paid holidays per year.

Job Location

This is an in-office position, with a potential for a hybrid work schedule up to two days a week. This position will also have weekly office hours at the Baltimore City KinCare Center in east Baltimore.

Hiring & Interview Process

Submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references from employers or school via email with “Kinship Paralegal” in the subject line to mvls@mvlslaw.org by 4 weeks from when application is posted. Applicants are encouraged to address the core values stated at the top of this job posting in their cover letters.

Please, no telephone calls.

• This application was posted on August 12, 2026. MVLS generally begins scheduling interviews after the four
• week application window has ended. Initial interviews with the hiring committee are scheduled for 45 minutes. For advancing candidates, a second 60

minute interview is held with the hiring committee and the Executive Director. Interview questions are provided in advance.  Reference checks are made for final candidates. The interview process generally takes about four weeks.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. MVLS is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application.

MVLS is an equal opportunity employer. MVLS does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity, age, religion, disability status, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, or immigration status.