Legal Assistant

Bmacww; Walla Walla (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision/Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Short/Long-Term Disability

Employee Assistance Program

401(k) Retirement Plan

TextCare

PTO

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

Paid Holidays

Bereavement Leave

Jury Duty Leave

Workers Compensation

Flexible Spending Account

Life Flight Membership

Aflac Benefits

Job summary

BMAC is seeking a Legal Assistant to work with the Pro Bono Legal Services Director to coordinate civil legal aid for eligible SSVF clients. The role involves networking with local and distant attorneys, coordinating legal aid services, and referring clients appropriately.

You will support client preparation for attorney consultations and organize logistics for legal clinics. You will travel to assist clients and participate in program events, maintaining confidentiality and adhering to ethics

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Human Services or related field.
• One year of work experience in a direct services coordination position.
• Experience in legal office preferred.
• Experience working with Veterans and/or serving low-income families preferred.
• Bilingual/Bicultural – English/Spanish, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess referred BMAC SSVF program clients’ legal needs for housing barriers to attainment or stability.
• Meet with clients in person or virtually to provide ongoing legal navigation and referrals.
• Prepare case summaries for attorney use when sending conflict check.
• Interact with volunteer attorneys and court personnel professionally regarding referrals.
• Draft, prepare, organize, and review legal documents, including pleadings and declarations.
• Maintain complete and accurate files and computer records in HMIS, Legal Server, and CAP60.
• Conduct legal research and assist with case preparation under supervision.
• Make presentations for community outreach meetings or staff training.

Skills

Communication

Confidentiality

Organizational skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Associates degree in Human Services or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

HMIS

Legal Server

CAP60

Job description

REPORTS TO: Pro Bono Legal Services Director

SUPERVISES: N/A

POSITION TYPE: Full-time, non-exempt

SCHEDULE: Up to 36 hours/week, based on contract funding

We accept and review applications on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by 8 a.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026. We will remove the position from our website once it is filled.

BENEFITS:

• Medical/Vision Dental Insurance: The following individuals qualify for BMAC's group insurance plans:
  • Regular, full-time employees working 30-40 hours per week receive full benefits
  • Qualifying dependents: Spouse/legal domestic partner and any dependent children 26 years or younger
• Life Insurance
• Short/Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Eligibility begins in the first month after hire date. Vesting rules apply.
• TextCare
  
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Employees begin accruing PTO the first day of employment as detailed below
  • Employees with 0-5 Years of Service = accrue 0.0773 hours per hour worked
  • Employees with 5+ Years of Service = accrue 0.0899 hours per hour worked
  • Employees with 10+ Years of Service = accrue 0.1028 hours per hour worked

• Flexible Time Off (FTO): Available based on regular work schedule.
  
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays
• Other Paid Leave
  • Bereavement Leave – up to 4 days to eligible employees
  • Jury Duty Leave – up to 4 weeks over any 1-year period
• Workers Compensation: Comprehensive insurance provide
• Optional Flexible Spending Account
• Optional Life Flight Membership
• Optional Aflac Benefits

JOB SUMMARY:

The Legal Assistant will work directly with the Pro Bono Legal Services Director to coordinate civil legal aid assistance for eligible SSVF clients. The Legal Assistant must be able to network and maintain professional working relationships with local (and long-distance) attorneys. This position will be involved in internal BMAC program outreach for the purposes of coordinating legal aid services and making appropriate referrals for clients. The Legal Assistant will support client efforts directly in preparation for attorney consultations and organize logistics for legal clinics. The Legal Assistant will collaborate in the planning and implementation of program events. Travel will be required to assist clients and provide community outreach in a wide program delivery region.

The Legal Assistant must display a thorough understanding of client confidentiality and demonstrate the ability to follow confidentiality standards and policies accordingly. Additionally, it is vital that the Legal Assistant develops a thorough understanding of what constitutes giving legal advice and the boundaries associated with assisting program clients as a non-attorney.

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Includes, but is not limited to:

• Assess referred BMAC SSVF program clients’ legal needs for barriers to housing attainment or housing stability.
  
• Meet with clients in person or virtually to provide ongoing legal navigation by helping navigate legal resources, providing referrals, and giving brief explanations of documents and processes.
  
• Prepare case summaries for attorney use when sending conflict check.
  Interact with volunteer attorneys and court personnel in a professional manner regarding new and existing referrals.
  
• Draft, prepare, organize, and review legal documents, including pleadings, declarations, correspondence, and other case-related materials
  
• Maintain complete and accurate files and computer records while supporting the legal team in staying organized (particularly in HMIS, Legal Server, and CAP60, program client-tracking databases).
  
• Under the direction of the Pro Bono Legal Services Director and participating attorneys, conduct legal research, prepare, organize, and maintain case-related documents and correspondence; and assist with case preparation.
  
• Make oral or written presentations as requested for community outreach meetings or BMAC staff training regarding how to detect legal needs and specific BMAC Pro Bono Legal Services Program parameters and processes.
  
• Monitor and record facilitation as necessary with clients, assigned legal service providers, and other parties to address any barriers to meeting client needs and identify effective strategies to remove those barriers.
  
• Participate in weekly or as required case conferencing meetings with the SSVF program(s), including subcontractors.
  
• Under the direction of the Director, understand and be able to facilitate required monitoring by the SSVF Director.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience

Relevant experience and/or education may be substituted for either education or work history.

• Associates degree in Human Services or related field
  
• One (1) year of work experience in a direct services coordination position.
  
  • Experience in legal office preferred.
    
  • Experience working with Veterans and/or serving low-income families preferred.
    
• Bilingual/Bicultural – English/Spanish, preferred.
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong commitment to BMAC’s mission of building thriving communities and to our values: hope, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and community.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge, and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively with diverse populations, including LGBTQ and people of color, as well as individuals of all ages and ability levels.
  
• Excellent ability to communicate professionally verbally and in writing.
  
• Ability to work collaboratively with BMAC staff, program volunteers, Board members, court staff, and community partners.
  
• A general knowledge of the civil legal system
• Current understanding or willingness to learn legal ethics, including attorney conflict of interests, confidentiality, and obtaining appropriate releases of information.
  
• Ability to be flexible when managing changing priorities and schedules, without compromising the quality of outcomes, ability to complete tasks, or uphold commitments.
  
• Ability to initiate and respond to communication such as emails or letters promptly.
  
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
  
• Ability to compile and accurately input and organize data, information, and files.
  
• Ability to learn/use HMIS, Legal Server, and CAP60 software systems.
  

Certifications

• Valid state driver's license and satisfactory driving record.
• Must provide own vehicle for travel and provide proof of current auto insurance. Mileage will be reimbursed according to the current IRS mileage rate.
  • Rental vehicles may be available for use.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is generally performed in an office environment. Involves occasional travel over the 17 counties covered by SSVF.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform essential functions.

Prolonged sedentary periods at desk and working on a computer. Occasional moving up to 15lbs.

NOTE: This is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended as an employment contract, nor is it intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees of BMAC are expected to perform tasks as assigned by supervisory/ management personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties.