Receptionist/Intake Paralegal

Staten Island Legal Services (across the street from the ferry), seeks a full-time Receptionist/Intake Paralegal to support the work of our office and mission. This position is available for immediate start.

Program Description

Staten Island Legal Services (SILS) fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. SILS provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Staten Island’s diverse low-income populations. SILS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients — preserving affordable and decent housing, representing survivors of domestic violence, obtaining immigration status and preventing deportations, advocating for the LGBTQ community, preventing foreclosures, and advocating for students with educational needs and people with disabilities. SILS is a part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), which is the largest provider of civil legal services in the country. LSNYC prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. As a social justice organization, we are committed to fighting for a workplace that is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as possible for everyone. Our DEIB committee and numerous affinity groups work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore and advocate for racial justice and anti-oppression growth within our organization and through our legal work. All employees are expected to learn about, seek to understand and work to realize our DEIB goals.

Role and Responsibilities

The Receptionist/Intake Paralegal reports to the Director of Administration. This position is anticipated to work in person at our office in St. George, Staten Island, and when necessary off-site. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Welcoming prospective clients and visitors to the office and directing them to the appropriate case handler or external resource;
• Answering the phones, including responding to inquiries regarding our services, directing calls, and taking messages;
• Conducting screenings and intake via telephone, video, and in-person at our office and off-site to determine whether prospective clients can be assisted by our office, including obtaining necessary demographic data, initial determination of financial eligibility, and ascertaining type of problem;
• Coordinating follow-up services, including appointments, referrals, client

correspondence, and gathering documents and other information;

• Performing preliminary intake or screening interviews, including preparation of appropriate forms, which may require occasional typing;

• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of our office priorities and intake;
• Identifying appropriate referrals for people who cannot be assisted by our office, and making referrals;
• Opening and closing files for clients and ensuring compliance with program

protocols;

• Distributing basic client service information materials;
• Assisting case handlers on client-related matters, including making phone

calls, sending basic correspondence and obtaining information;

• Entering and tracking information in electronic format, including databases

and grant management systems and other formats, running reports with the

data, and assisting in preparation for audits;

• Maintaining client-related files, including copying, scanning, uploading and distributing documents;
• Interpreting, translating, and using language assistance resources;
• Sorting and distributing the mail; and
• Other tasks as assigned consistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

Experience and Qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience and comfortability working with the public;
• Strong communication and organization skills;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a calm, helpful demeanor in a sometimes stressful and fast-paced environment;
• Be able to handle a busy reception desk and interact with a wide range of people including low-income clients, case handlers, and representatives of community organizations;
• Excellent attention to detail and able to meet deadlines;
• Excellent interviewing skills (the ability to identify a client’s needs quickly and accurately);
• Experience working with a diverse low-income population;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies; and
• Spanish language fluency is required.

Salary and benefits are determined by the Legal Services NYC Collective Bargaining Agreement.

As fluency in Spanish is required, a language proficiency test and interpreter skills assessment will be administered.

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

How to Apply:

Applicants must send a cover letter and resume to silshiring@lsnyc.org. Please write “Receptionist/Intake Paralegal” in the subject line of the email. Please, no telephone calls.

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary Range (Based on years’ experience):

• 1-10 years: $51,883 - $64,096
• 11-20 years: $65,124 - $73,922
• 21+ years: $76,724 - $83,706