Intake Unit Paralegal

South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.; New Bedford, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Flexible spending account

403(b) retirement plan

Loan forgiveness

Paid leave (sick, vacation, personal,H

Job summary

South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. seeks a full-time Intake Unit Paralegal to support its hotline and client intake operations. Under supervision, you will interview potential clients, review applications, and assist with brief advice, forms, and coordination with practice units.

The role starts remote, with potential future hybrid or office work. You will handle sensitive information, maintain accurate case notes, and contribute to community outreach while developing knowledge across

Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate, bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Commitment to serving low-income clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Answer hotline calls and interview potential clients with empathy.
• Review online applications and assist with intake and case management tasks.
• Assist with legal research and writing as assigned and coordinate with practice units.
• Maintain intake documentation and case notes in the case management system.
• Help with data collection, grant reporting, and language-assisted outreach.

Skills

Empathy

Active listening

Verbal communication

Written communication

Multilingual (second language)

Education

Paralegal Certificate/Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Legal Server

Job description

South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS), along with its subsidiary the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, is a vibrant and growing non-profit legal aid program where our core mission is to fight injustice and poverty by advocating on behalf of low-income individuals and families across Southeast Massachusetts, the Cape, and Islands in civil matters when their basic needs are at stake. The organization prioritizes legal services in housing, public benefits, elder law, domestic relations, employment, education, immigration, and consumer matters.

With a staff of over 100, SCCLS is the principal provider of civil legal aid in the region. We operate from offices in Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Hyannis. Our team provides representation and litigation services to thousands of people each year, while also delivering a wide range of community outreach and educational programs. We seek candidates who are committed to advancing equal access to justice and opportunity through client-centered advocacy. This is an opportunity to join a collaborative, mission-driven team dedicated to delivering impactful legal services to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The Role:

SCCLS seeks a full-time paralegal to support the work of its Intake Unit. Under the supervision of the Intake Supervising Attorney, paralegals on the Intake team are the initial point of contact for individuals with critical needs. The Intake Unit Paralegal will answer hotline calls, interview potential clients, review online applications for assistance, and perform other tasks necessary to the smooth functioning of the Unit. The paralegal will secondarily assist clients with brief advice and assistance, update forms and templates, participate in routine training, and coordinate with SCCLS practice units. The position will start remote, but this may change to hybrid or an office location in the future and is not guaranteed.

Responsibilities Include:

Interview potential clients with empathy while efficiently identifying their legal problems and assessing their eligibility for service.

• Follow all relevant regulations, policies, standards, and protocols, including those related to privileged communications.
• Maintain appropriate paperwork, including completing intakes, documenting case activity, and case notes in a electronic case management system.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of community needs and resources, while helping establish meaningful working ties with community groups of and for the poor and helping to connect our services to our clients.
• Assist with legal research and writing as assigned.
• Assist with data collection and grant reporting.
• Understand conflicts of interest and how to behave in ways that comply with the rules.
• Help counsel clients regarding their legal rights and options.
• Participate in community education events, including making presentations to other groups.
• Improve skills and knowledge by regularly reviewing relevant materials and fully engaging in new tasks, and work to adapt to new challenges.
• Use any available language skill which they possess to help the mission and our clients.
• Work alongside and closely collaborate with other staff from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet SCCLS’ objectives and goals.

Competencies/Qualifications:

• Paralegal Certificate/Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Commitment to working with clients from all backgrounds who may have experienced poverty, trauma or discrimination required.
• Client relations or service industry experience preferred.
• Prior experience with case management, advocacy, or serving the needs of clients desirable.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures, with differing opinions and values, including with clients, staff, volunteers, students, community members and funders.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and client confidentiality.
• Empathetic, non-judgmental, and active listening skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willing to learn various substantive areas of the law important to our practice (including, but not limited to, housing, family, immigration, benefits, consumer, and education).
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Positive, team-oriented mindset.
• Goal and detail oriented with ability to prioritize.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, familiarity with other technology platforms desirable, and comfort learning new systems.
• Willingness to become effective and efficient in use of our case management system (Legal Server) required.
• Fluency in a second language which reflects our client communities strongly preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salaries are based on a collective bargaining agreement scale range of $51,200 – $81,800 with yearly standard increases, and an annual increment for demonstrated language skills. Generous benefits package includes health and dental with supplemental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b), and loan forgiveness. Generous paid leave includes sick, vacation, personal, and holidays.

South Coastal Counties Legal Services and its subsidiary are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We strive to foster a healthy, inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members are valued, empowered and recognized.