Intake Paralegal

Socket.dev; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 51,750 - 68,310; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Plans PPO/HSA options

Dental Plan

Vision Plan

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s Joplin office is seeking an intake paralegal. This hybrid role serves as the first contact for clients, conducting intake interviews and screening applicants for services while providing essential administrative support to keep the office running for clients and staff.

If you are detail-oriented, mission-driven, and thrive in a collaborative environment where your work makes a real difference in people’s lives, we encourage you to apply.

Qualifications

• Proven clerical and office administration experience with strong typing, spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams).
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks across different teams under pressure.
• High discretion, confidentiality, and patience in all client interactions.
• Commitment to Legal Aid’s mission of expanding access to justice.

Responsibilities

• Answer phones and greet visitors.
• Take applications for services and screen applicants for eligibility (income, assets, case type).
• Conduct in-depth intake interviews gathering facts, documents, and details for attorneys.
• Provide administrative support to attorneys, paralegals, and supervisors across practice areas.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Discretion

Multitasking

Bilingual (Spanish)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Word

Excel

Outlook

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s Joplin office is seeking an intake paralegal. This role is central to our efforts to build a stronger administrative foundation for serving our clients and supporting our staff. This is a hybrid role at the heart of how our office runs: you’ll be the first person many clients speak to, conducting intake interviews and screening applicants for our services, while also providing administrative support that keeps the office working for clients and staff alike. If you are detail-oriented, mission-driven, and thrive in a collaborative environment where your work makes a real difference in people’s lives, we encourage you to apply.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Answer phones and greet visitors
• Take applications for services and screen applicants for eligibility, including income, assets, and case type.
• Conduct in-depth interviews with eligible applicants about their legal problems, completing full intake to gather the facts, documents, and details attorneys need to evaluate the case.
• Provide administrative support to attorneys, paralegals, and supervisors across practice areas, including the following:
  • Prepare letters and correspondence to clients, ensuring appropriate form, style, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
  • Coordinate distribution of mail, note relevant deadlines and hearing dates, and route time-sensitive materials to appropriate staff.
  • Maintain and organize client files and case-related documents in accordance with Legal Aid’s records management protocols.
  • Perform data entry and maintain accurate records in Legal Aid’s case management system, including opening and closing cases as appropriate.
  • Provide information, answer questions, and schedule appointments for unit staff as needed
  • Communicate with clients in a professional, compassionate, and culturally sensitive manner, recognizing that many clients are experiencing a crisis or complex trauma.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality of client and organizational information at all times.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in clerical and office administration, including strong typing, spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to work collaboratively and professionally with a diverse team
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks across different teams simultaneously, with a solution-oriented mindset and the ability to adapt under pressure
• High level of discretion, confidentiality, and patience in all client and organizational interactions
• Commitment to Legal Aid’s mission of expanding access to justice

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a legal, nonprofit, or social services setting.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills, particularly Spanish.
• Familiarity with case management systems or legal technology platforms.

Location

This role is an in-person role based in Legal Aid’s Joplin, Missouri office. Regular in-office attendance is the expectation for this role. Legal Aid offers flexible work arrangements to support employees in maintaining schedules that enable them to perform at their best.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $51,750 - $68,310 on Legal Aid’s formal salary scale. Placement on the range will be based on factors such as years of relevant experience, budget, and internal equity. Employees who demonstrate fluency in a second language are eligible for an annual salary supplement of $3,600.

• Medical Plans with PPO or HSA options
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical or dependent care
• Health Savings Accounts
• Paid CLE and Bar Dues
• Paid Time Off: Vacation, Sick, Personal and Holidays
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
• Travel and parking reimbursement
• 401k and up to 3.5% employer match

Equal Opportunity Employer

LAWMO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Those applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/application process should contact the Human Resources Department at [e-mail].