Paralegal

Job Description

About Company:

Bay Area Legal Services (BALS) is a regional, non-profit public interest law firm providing legal counsel to individuals and non-profit groups with limited access to legal services. Their mission is to assist those in need, resolve their legal problems, and preserve their independence, hope, and dignity. The firm has over 170 staff members and strives to create pathways to justice through legal services, education, and community partnerships.

Job Description:

Position Title: Paralegal (Full-Time)-New Port Richey
Home Office Location: New Port Richey, FL (Hybrid, 4 days in office & 1 day remote)

Position Summary:

The Paralegal position provides support to the New Port Richey team of five attorneys in a wide range of practice areas including housing, family law, consumer, elder law, and general legal services. Assistance in outreach and at a pro se forms clinic is also needed. The Paralegal supports staff who are facilitating or directly providing legal services to low-income clients.

Illustrative Duties:

• Interview new and continuing service clients and ensure grant compliance.
• Investigate facts, checks, and examines law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, constitutions, and legal codes to prepare complex legal documents, such as briefs, pleadings.
• Assist with CL referrals and case closing procedures, and other grant-related tasks.
• Handle individual client matters independently, but under attorney supervision.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by supervising attorney, including private attorney involvement as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum 2 years of experience as a paralegal with an AA degree in paralegal studies or 1-year experience as a paralegal with a Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or may substitute education with a total of 5 years’ experience as a paralegal
• Excellent time management, organizational skills, detailed and deadline oriented
• Excellent written, verbal, and proof-reading skills
• Extremely client focused with the desire & ability to work effectively and compassionately with clients in low-income levels facing social, economic, and legal issues who have limited access to services to assist them.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and complete majority of tasks independently
• Ability to work in and contribute effectively to a supportive, collegial, and friendly team environment
• Extensive knowledge of legal documents, procedures and terminology, and processes
• Extensive knowledge of legal case management systems and accurately tracking and processing legal case data using these systems
• Stress management skills, multi-tasking skills, and telephone etiquette skills
• Experience using legal case management system(s)

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience at a Non-Profit a plus
• Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) through Florida Bar

Compensation & Benefits:

• Starting hourly rate $26.15/hr, increases based on relevant experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package: 4% match for the 403b retirement plan with immediate vesting; Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability coverage; and more
• Generous time-off and work-life balance: 13 paid holidays, 3 weeks’ vacation for the 1st year of employment, and 37.5-hour workweek
• Reimbursement for travel expenses (mileage, etc.)
• See all benefits here: https://bals.org/careers#benefits

Important Note:

• This position requires successful completion of a level II background screening based on the required duties and responsibilities.