Paralegal

About Us

For more than 50 years, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) has been providing free, high-quality legal counsel in civil matters when basic human needs are at stake including: eviction and foreclosure prevention, domestic violence, disability, elder law, healthcare, consumer fraud and more. Our services support almost 600,000 poor and low-income families and individuals who cannot afford an attorney in our seven-county service area. With the gap separating those who can and cannot afford legal representation widening each day, we work to ensure that everyone has equal access to justice, regardless of their ability to pay. As the only provider of comprehensive civil legal services in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley (Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan), LSHV is proud to have handled over 12,000 cases impacting nearly 30,000 household members including 10,000 children last year. LSHV is made up of ten offices, and a dedicated and highly skilled staff of attorneys, paralegals and administrative professionals.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley is dedicated to building a highly skilled workforce that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels supported to bring their authentic selves to work. We are committed to promoting equity for all, and we continuously review and strengthen our processes and practices to support our staff, clients and the communities we serve. Respect is a cornerstone of relationships among our staff.


Position Description

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) has an opening in our White Plains office for a full-time paralegal in its Pro Bono Unit. The Pro Bono Unit engages volunteers to assist LSHV clients and staff legal clinics. The position is primarily focused on housing matters, but will include work in various other legal areas, such as consumer debt, immigration, family, bankruptcy, trusts and estates and other civil legal matters. Reporting to the Pro Bono Director, the paralegal will screen and conduct interviews with clients, conduct follow-up investigations, maintain physical and electronic case management system files for clients and applicants, organize clients and volunteers for virtual and in person legal clinics, maintain records of volunteer hours and case placements, assist in planning volunteer recognition events, coordinate LSHV's volunteer and CLE Programs, participate in outreach programs, and if bilingual, provide interpretation and translation. Additional duties may include provision of technical, legal, investigative, research, administrative, and general clerical support. Provision of legal information under the supervision of an attorney may be required, as well as general administrative support for all unit activities. The person hired will also be expected to adhere to program and case handling standards, funder requirements, and the highest professional standards. The position requires occasional travel to locations within LSHV's seven- county service area.


Qualifications:

• Minimum - Associate degree or certification in paralegal studies
• Excellent written and oral communication, organizational and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, staff, and volunteers
• Comfort in interacting with private attorneys, public service attorneys, and court personnel
• Capacity to establish priorities, work independently as well as collaboratively, and achieve results
• Capability of performing multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Mastery in data entry and database maintenance
• Competency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
• Proficiency with technology

Preferred:

• Two or more years of paralegal experience
• Spanish Fluency
  Physical Requirements
• 0-10 lbs. handled occasionally
• Negligible weight handled frequently and constantly

Salary: $58,662-$81,221; DOE, competitive union scale, with excellent benefits that include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage, as well as a defined contribution 403 (b), loan repayment assistance, and paid parental leave. After a brief probationary period, this position may permit work from home up to six days per month.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.