Client Intake & Administrative Paralegal

Justice at Work (JaW) is a nonprofit legal aid provider based in Pennsylvania. Our mission is to support low-wage workers as they pursue economic and social justice. We advance our mission through legal services, education, and advocacy. We employ a client-centered model of service: we seek to address clients’ challenges based on the unique circumstances of each individual, with a focus on their viewpoint and goals; we recognize that justice is a process; we believe that the experience we create for our clients as we guide them through the legal process is as important as the ultimate legal outcomes we seek to bring about. We have offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and provide legal services throughout Pennsylvania. We strive to center marginalized community voices, and focus much of our work on Spanish-speaking immigrant and migrant communities living in small cities, towns, and agricultural communities across the Commonwealth.

ABOUT THE POSITION: The Client Intake & Administrative Paralegal (Intake Paralegal) is a

member of JaW’s intake team. The Intake Paralegal supports the intake team in receiving and

responding to all requests for assistance in a timely, client-centered, culturally-informed manner.

The Intake Paralegal also supports the administrative work of JaW, including opening and

closing cases in the agency’s case management system and ensuring staff members’ completion

of compliance-related case management protocols.

Core responsibilities include the following:

I. Support Client Intake

• Receive and respond to all requests for assistance in a timely, client-centered, culturally informed manner
• Conduct intake interviews on a regular basis, most frequently over the telephone
• Work with telephonic and in-person interpretation services to provide meaningful language access to limited English proficient clients and potential clients
• Provide information and assistance to intake callers and clients; facilitate referrals to other legal services programs, social service providers or other resources; and/or liaise with other JaW colleagues for further action or investigation
• Work with JaW team to develop and maintain good relationships with the client community, state and local partners, and other community groups
• Assist the intake team with the opening and closing of cases and other compliance-related admin work
• Support the intake team in ensuring that all applicable client files, data and reports are accurate, complete, and timely

II. Support Colleagues in Advancing Organizational Mission

• Support the work of the organization through activities including regularly sharing information, updating resource and referral materials for clients, and maintaining and documenting intake data in support of JaW’s compliance and reporting requirements
• Attend and present intake updates at weekly staff meetings
• Comply with all applicable regulations, policies and grant requirements, including accurately tracking all time and data
• Attend internal and external training sessions that inform JaW’s work and intake responsibilities when requested or required by the Intake Supervisor, or as time permits
• Embrace and support our overall mission, standards, policies and procedures, and confidentiality guidelines
• Demonstrate dependability through good attendance, adherence to timelines and schedules, and regular communication with supervisor
• Collaborate with colleagues in advancing JaW’s mission in other ways as needs arise

APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS

This position is ideal for someone who is equally adept at administrative tasks and

interpersonal communication. The strongest applicants will have the following qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both Spanish and English; must be able to effectively communicate with Spanish speakers without the use of an interpreter
• Experience working with telephonic interpreters with limited English proficient individuals who do not speak Spanish
• Commitment to recognizing and promoting the dignity of all people
• Experience with individuals or communities experiencing structural oppression and/or poverty
• Experience interviewing individuals who have experienced trauma, and the resilience to have these conversations on a regular basis
• Experience working with farmworker, migrant and/or immigrant communities
• Ability to work well with a wide range of people
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to adhere to deadlines without exception, and to support others in doing so as well
• Experience and comfort using Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams; ability to learn how to use client and data management systems
• Ability & willingness to occasionally adjust work schedule to meet JaW’s intake needs
• Demonstrated resourcefulness and ability to take initiative in supporting JaW’s mission, clients, and colleagues

EDUCATION

There are no specific degree requirements for this position. We invite applicants with a range of

life and work experience to apply.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This work requires the following physical activities:

• Sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending, squatting, kneeling, stooping; good finger dexterity and feeling; frequent repetitive motions; ability to speak and hear; or the ability to perform essential job functions with reasonable accommodation
• Lifting (up to 25 pounds of files, supplies or minor office equipment)
• Requires substantial time spent typing

The strongest applicants will have the following qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both Spanish and English; must be

able to effectively communicate with Spanish speakers without the use of an interpreter

• Experience working with telephonic interpreters with limited English proficient

individuals