Paralegal, Brooklyn-Preserving Affordable Housing Program

Job Description

Job Description

Company Overview:  

Since 1968,  Build Up Justice NYC   has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy. Build Up Justice NYC has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

 

The Preserving Affordable Housing Program uses legal and advocacy strategies to preserve and protect affordable housing, prevent evictions, combat tenant harassment and discrimination, and ensure that working families, individuals, older adults and others live in stable environments and within their financial means.  

 

Position Summary:  

The Paralegal with the Brooklyn-PAH Program will work closely with staff attorneys to ensure the successful and smooth operation of its legal and administrative functions, including client communication and case support, assisting with the drafting of pleadings and papers; case filing; case intake, including with administrative investigations and complaints; records management for the Program; case/data tracking; and answering phone calls. 

Job Responsibilities:  

• With the supervision of an attorney, research cases and legal issues to support client cases, and prepare the appropriate documentation according to established procedures; 

• Interview clients and enter cases into the case management system and prepare letters and request documents to prepare clients' cases;  
• Communicate legal details to clients in a clear and precise manner in attorney's absence without providing legal consultation or advice; 
• Transcribe notes from legal proceedings and meetings on computer from dictation and notation with precise terminology and speed; 
• Research, retrieve and update appropriate information in clients' case files in both hard files and case management system; 
• Coordinate and confirm deposition schedules with other law firms as well as field incoming inquiries regarding court related details; 
• Facilitate the timely delivery of legal documents and attend court and administrative hearings as required; 
• Respond to clients in a timely and professional manner that best represents BKA and respect for the client; 
• Maintain an updated and accurate master calendar for the team; 
• Attend community group meetings and outreach programs and client meetings as necessary. May involve evenings and weekend; 
• General administrative duties for the team and other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:  

• A Bachelor’s Degree (preferred) and a minimum of one year legal assistant/paralegal experience; Paralegal certificate, a plus; 
• Experience with following court rules, filing court documents and maintaining litigation files; 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, local organizations, and people in desperate crisis; 
• Demonstrated ability to interact with client/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; 
• Excellent writing in English, bi-lingual Spanish preferred; 
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint and other standard data management systems required, related certifications a plus; 

• Strong reporting and record keeping skills, including the ability to synthesize lots of quantifiable and qualitative data into clear, plain language and readable charts and checklists; 
• Must be able to work strategically within a team structure as well as independently, multi-task and work under tight deadlines; 
• Dependability, good time management and organizational skills and be attentive to detail; 
• Thorough commitment to Buid Up Justice’s mission. 

 

Compensation & Benefits  

Annual salary $61,000 - $73,000 dependent on years of experience. Benefits highlights - 27 days vacation; employer paid health, dental and vision insurance; employer contribution to 401(k).

 

To apply  

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role. This Brooklyn based position is hybrid -- in-office 3 days/remote work 2 days.

 

Build Up Justice NYC is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting a talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Build Up Justice NYC diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff. 

W e encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.