FULL-TIME PARALEGAL | HOUSING UNIT (EVICTION DEFENSE)

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is committed to fair employment practices. We are proud to employ a staff with the cultural and linguistic competency to work within a variety of communities.

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) seeks applications for a full-time Paralegal position in the Housing Unit. The Paralegal’s work will focus on serving individuals and families facing eviction in court or termination of their housing subsidies.

The Housing Unit at GBLS works to ensure access to justice for vulnerable communities through direct representation, advocacy, and policy initiatives. Advocates in the Housing Unit provide free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals, families, and tenants associations in the Greater Boston area, and address various types of housing crises, including displacements, evictions, loss of subsidies, and access to shelter.

Responsibilities: The paralegal, supervised by an attorney, will provide direct legal assistance, advice, or representation of tenants, work on rental assistance applications, and support ongoing litigation and eviction defense cases.

Additionally, the paralegal may be required to take part in other tasks within the full range of Housing Unit activities, which may include support for tenants in public and subsidized housing; support for tenant organizations seeking to preserve affordable housing; legislative and administrative advocacy projects; advising on matters of eviction, housing benefits, or denials of public benefits; facilitating the Attorney for the Day program in Housing Courts; participating in housing clinics and office hours; working with Tenants Organizations and Tenant Associations to provide legal support for organizing efforts; and other housing benefits work as applicable.

This position is hybrid and will require working from our Boston office at least 2 days per week. The position may also require some work off-site, and occasional evening or weekend commitments.

Qualifications: We are looking for a candidate who can respond quickly and professionally to requests from applicants, clients, and staff members at GBLS.

Candidates must be able to work cooperatively on a team, have good attention to detail, and should possess strong advocacy skills that include the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing.

Candidates must be able to engage with attorneys and state agencies to represent families in administrative hearings and informal negotiations, as well as participating in systemic advocacy.

Candidates must be able to address families in crisis. Experience with housing services or legal aid is preferred but not required.

Candidates with lived experience of displacement and housing instability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Fluency in one or more languages spoken by GBLS clients (e.g., Portuguese, Spanish, or Haitian Creole) is a plus.

Starting Date: Immediate; preferably, no later than July 1, 2025.