PARALEGAL
(Non-exempt Employee)
Purpose of Job:
To provide high quality professional advocacy for low-income clients on matters that do not require an attorney. Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV) is seeking a skilled, motivated paralegal to work with West Virginians participating in the Jobs and Hope WV Program who seek to remove barriers to employment. This primarily means assisting clients with expungement, driver's license issues and access to income. The Barriers to Employment Paralegal who partners with Jobs and Hope WV will be a member of a dynamic team with an attorney and will encounter opportunities for professional development and creative problem-solving. You will regularly conduct outreach, hold on-site legal clinics, and present training to Jobs and Hope Transition Agents, Re-entry Councils, and more. You will work with clients who are often in recovery and are seeking to remove barriers to employment, with support from and collaboration with other attorneys and community partners. Frequent travel across the state is required.
Scope of Responsibility:
Work performed in the office setting, in administrative law proceedings, and in the community.
Essential Job Functions:
1. Provide legal representation consistent with professional and LAWV organizational standards for the delivery of civil legal services to the poor, and consistent with any requirement of the Legal Services Corporation, LAWV policies in conjunction with the Personnel Manual and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and all other funding sources. Such representation may include social security disability cases, Medicaid cases, welfare cases, food stamps cases, and other public benefits matters, as well as assistance with domestic violence protective order proceedings, and other matters on which clients need assistance in accordance to the paralegal’s grant funding source.
2. The professional responsibility of paralegals is substantially the same as that of lawyers.
3 Maintain accurate and complete files or records.
4. Interact with clients and staff and service providers professionally and appropriately.
5. Within the constraints of the job, attend and participate in statewide planning meetings, trainings and task forces, as well as office meetings.
6. Make an effort to involve private attorneys in the provision of legal services to eligible clients.
Salary and Benefits:
The Paralegal position is a salaried position with an annual starting salary range of $31,100 – $36,100. LAWV offers a generous benefits package, a 37.5-hour workweek, paid vacation leave and sick leave and health plan, as well as dental, vision and life benefits. Staff also have the option to participate in a 403(b)-retirement plan and dependent and health flex savings accounts (FSA). LAWV is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
The Parkersburg LAWV office is situated in the heart of downtown Parkersburg, one of West Virginia’s largest and most family-friendly cities. We are conveniently located less than a block from the newly opened Discovery World on Market (Children’s Museum) and within walking distance of plenty of amenities including locally owned restaurants and shopping boutiques. Nestled along the Ohio River, Parkersburg is an ideal location for anyone who enjoys outdoor recreation such as boating, hiking, or biking the North Bend Rail-Trail. It is a wonderful location for families as the city often holds community events or gathers to support of one its many high school sport teams. Parkersburg is also less than two hours from West Virginia’s two largest cities and Columbus, Ohio providing convenient access to major metropolitan areas.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@lawv.net. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. LAWV is seeking diverse perspectives and people. EOE Qualified women, minorities and people with disabilities (including lived recovery experience) are encouraged to apply.
Job Requirements:
1. Must have an Associate’s Degree/Paralegal Certificate and a minimum of 2 years of experience or 4 years of experience.
2. Must have demonstrable commitment to understanding and addressing issues of low-income constituents.
3. Must have skills to use office technologies, including learning LAWV case management software.
4. Must be able to balance administrative and client advocacy responsibilities.
5. Good communication skills, both written and oral are required.
6. Ability to organize, prioritize and work independently.