Bilingual Legal Assistant/Screener

Mielegalaid; Asheville (NC); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dedicated bilingual Legal Assistant to join their Justice For All Program. This role is pivotal in supporting the immigrant community by providing direct legal assistance and ensuring access to justice. You will work closely with a passionate team, conducting client interviews, preparing legal documents, and contributing to a mission that empowers low-income individuals. With a hybrid work model, you will enjoy a balance of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. If you are enthusiastic about making a difference and possess the skills to thrive in a dynamic environment, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401k Retirement Plan

Paid Parental Leave

Paid Bereavement Leave

Paid Sabbatical Leave

Employee Assistance Program

Work-Life Balance

Qualifications

• Passion for promoting justice and commitment to PLS’ mission.
• Fluency in English and Spanish required for interpreting and translating.

Responsibilities

• Screen clients for eligibility and prepare legal documents.
• Provide administrative support to attorneys and conduct client interviews.

Skills

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Socio-economic and Cultural Sensitivity

Education

Associate’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Database Systems

Job description

Hybrid remote work schedule: 3 days in office and 2 days remote

Base office in Asheville, NC with travel to other office locations

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Posting

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a community-based non-profit legal aid agency governed by a local Board of Directors. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. The organization currently has offices in Asheville, Brevard, Burnsville, Cashiers, Hendersonville, Highlands, Marshall, Morganton, Newland, and Rutherfordton. With over 120 dedicated staff, including over 30 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 200 volunteer attorneys, the program provides free services to over 20,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public benefits, domestic violence prevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law.

PLS seeks a full-time bilingual Legal Assistant for our Justice For All Program (JFAP). This position will work closely with the JFAP team and provide support to serve the needs of the immigrant community. JFAP serves the 18 westernmost North Carolina counties by providing direct legal assistance to eligible immigrants and their children, helping them secure legal immigration status and/or work authorization, and meet their basic needs.

Passion for promoting justice and overcoming barriers facing low-income people, being a creative and zealous staff member and a team player, and a demonstrated commitment to achieving lasting results for clients and low-income communities are all important.

Responsibilities

1. Commitment to PLS’ mission, values, and vision.
2. Screen clients for eligibility.
3. Prepare and edit legal documents.
4. Conduct client interviews with a trauma-informed approach.
5. Provide general administrative and legal assistance support to attorneys to assist in case development.
6. Scheduling and meeting preparation.
7. Travel within the PLS service area and to meetings or conferences in other parts of NC.
8. Adhere to program priorities and case handling policies, procedures, and standards of practice, as well as the highest professional and ethical standards.
9. English/Spanish interpreting and translating as needed.
10. Work with volunteers and PLS Development Team.

Qualifications

1. Passion for and commitment to PLS’ mission, values, and vision.
2. Associate’s degree/ Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
3. Demonstrated skills at socio-economic and cultural sensitivity and the ability to work with people.
4. Strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple deadlines and to identify priorities among a variety of tasks.
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail.
6. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams and independently.
7. Basic computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel and ability to enter information into a database system.
8. Fluency in English and Spanish (verbal & written) required, with ability to interpret and translate from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English.
9. Possess a valid driver’s license.

Salary/ Benefits

Salary ranges from $45,143 - $65,338 depending on experience. Additional bilingual language skills that are applicable to this role may qualify for up to an additional $3k upon completing a language assessment test.

Our salary scale is predetermined based on the years of relative professional work experience that qualify for this position to ensure equity in pay. Pisgah Legal Services is a Living Wage Certified Employer.

Employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage the 1st of the month following the start date. Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) pays 100% of the Employee and 50% of the Dependent Cost for BCBS Medical and Dental coverage. PLS pays 50% of the Employee Coverage Cost for BCBS Vision coverage. PLS pays 100% of Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage, Life Insurance Coverage of 5x base salary + an additional $15,000 Life & AD&D Coverage. 401k Retirement Plan after 6 months of employment. Additional Fringe Benefits include Pet Insurance, Paid Parental Leave, Paid Bereavement Leave, 13.5 Company Holidays, 22 Paid Leave Days, Paid Sabbatical Leave for eligible staff, Employee Assistance Program for entire household, and a great working environment with work-life balance!

To Apply

Submit your online application with resume and cover letter through our Career Center located at https://www.pisgahlegal.org/jobs

PLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

Pisgah Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with our Human Resources department.