Paralegal - Consumer - Legal Aid Chicago

Paralegal - Consumer Legal Aid Chicago 200 N LaSalle St Suite 1400 Chicago, IL 60601 United States Remote or Telecommuting Some remote allowed Job Description For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice. Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 200 N. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position requires residency in the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois or Northwest Indiana. This position may require travel to court or other outreach events. Position Legal Aid Chicago seeks one full-time paralegal in the Consumer Practice Group. Paralegals work alongside attorneys and directly with clients on legal issues. This position will support our work with the Early Resolution Program with Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD), a county-wide initiative to help resolve eviction and debt issues. The Early Resolution Program for consumer debt provides limited assistance to debtors in Cook County to advise them of their rights, provide referrals, and assist consumers in reaching agreements with their creditor(s). The program has both a pre-court and in-court component. The pre-court assistance focuses on screening and advising debtors of their rights. The in-court assistance focuses on advice, referrals and negotiation to resolve issues prior to trial. The paralegals support both aspects of this program, providing support to staff attorneys in screening and following up with debtors. This is a hybrid position. Responsibilities Conduct telephone and virtual interviews to determine client eligibility for services Assist with providing brief services to clients including providing advice, obtaining documents, sending client correspondence, assisting with court filings and communicating on behalf of clients Ensure smooth operations of the consumer early resolution program including client registration and advice Engage and provide administrative support to staff in the consumer early resolution program Attend training and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant issues Track data related to grant, pro bono work, and assist on related reporting Make appropriate referrals inside Legal Aid Chicago and to external partners Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case management system Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorneys and Director Qualifications A college degree preferred Computer proficiency, including familiarity with Microsoft Office applications Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills The ability to work well under pressure, and to learn and retain new information The ability to quickly and thoroughly gather information from clients and then summarize it concisely A demonstrated interest or experience working with Legal Aid Chicago's client populations The applicant's personal background, experience, or professional background should reflect an ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers, volunteers, and the community we serve Ability to work collaboratively with others and to draft documents including letters and basic pleadings is essential Pay scale and benefits This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience. The budgeted salary range for this position is $46,675-$51,428, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited experience. Bilingual Paralegals are eligible for an additional stipend? Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment 19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost Monthly internet stipend Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program Position type Full-time #J-18808-Ljbffr Illinois Legal Aid Online