BRONX LEGAL SERVICES SEEKS PARALEGALS FOR OUR PUBLIC BENEFITS UNIT

We are seeking one or more paralegals to join our Public Benefits Unit.

Our Organization

Bronx Legal Services, the largest provider of free civil legal services in the borough, is part of Legal Services NYC’s network of local programs throughout New York City. Our mission is to advance society’s promise to its most vulnerable members: that they are entitled to equal access to our legal system. For over 50 years, we have provided civil legal services that help our clients meet their essential needs and have challenged the systemic injustices that keep them poor.

Bronx Legal Services 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.

The Public Benefits Unit

Our Public Benefits Unit (PBU) fights to retain, obtain, or increase critical public benefits, including cash public assistance, SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, HASA benefits, and rent subsidies (such as FHEPS and CityFHEPS). We also specialize in health law issues, helping people obtain or retain public health insurance and services such as Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care.

The Opportunity

We are seeking one or more paralegals to join our PBU, depending on vacancies and funding. Our talented team of advocates includes thirty-three people. Paralegals primarily work in partnership with housing attorneys to prevent evictions, maximize benefits in the household, and eliminate barriers to promote longer-term stability for families and individuals. In addition to helping clients facing evictions, PBU paralegals have an independent caseload of clients whom they assist with the full spectrum of benefits issues.

Paralegals advocate with administrative agencies to challenge denials, reductions, or terminations of public benefits; conduct community education and outreach; provide litigation support; assess potential clients for our services; and give legal guidance in collaboration with attorneys. Paralegals are responsible for case advocacy, including housing subsidy applications, public assistance applications, and administrative hearings.

Occasional evening and weekend outreach will be necessary.

We are looking for candidates who want to work in a fast-paced environment and will employ creative strategies and collaborations in the pursuit of justice. Paralegals are expected to work closely with attorneys and community partners.

When conducting off-site intake and outreach, the paralegal will be expected to enter and upload relevant data and documents into our case management system and complete conflict checks, whenever possible.

Experience & Qualifications

Qualifications include:

• A demonstrated passion for social justice and a commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity;
• Prior work experience or post-high school education preferred;
• Great time management skills and ability to juggle several different urgent priorities at the same time;
• An excellent communicator and collaborator who enjoys working with, and being a part of, a team;
• Ability to adapt to change and be flexible;
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken by Bronx residents is strongly preferred;
• Patience, empathy, and understanding for our clients and colleagues;
• Ability to speak with people of diverse backgrounds and build trust, be able to treat people with respect, and identify clients’ needs quickly and accurately;
• Ability to advocate or fight for someone else, maintain composure under pressure, and present information to an authority figure;
• Understand the dynamics of intimate partner/domestic violence and trafficking, as well as the effects abuse, crime, and trauma have on individuals and communities;
• Aptitude for working with survivors of crime, noncitizens, older persons, and/or people with disabilities;
• Good writing skills;
• Excellent organizational skills and strong facility with numbers;
• Experience working with low-income people; and
• Experience with public benefits strongly preferred.

How to Apply

To apply for the position, send a cover letter, resume, names of three references, and two recent writing samples via e-mail to:

Bronx-BenefitsHiring@lsnyc.org

The e-mail should include “Bronx Benefits Paralegal Position” in the subject line.

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls. We will not review résumés or other applications sent via any other method, such as Indeed or LinkedIn.

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.

Bronx Legal Services is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and people over age 40 are all welcomed and encouraged to apply.

Bronx Legal Services acknowledges that applicants from groups that have been historically marginalized are less likely to apply for positions unless they feel that they meet 100% of a job description’s qualifications. We understand that the ideal candidate might not completely meet the criteria listed above or be equally proficient in each area; we especially encourage applicants who are impacted by LSNYC’s work to submit their application anyway.

Job#80_2024; Posted: 09.2024

Salary Range (Based on years’ experience):

• 1-10 years: $55,460 - $68,514
• 11-20 years: $69,614 - $79,019
• 21+ years: $82,013 - $89,476