Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc. (CCLA) established in 2003 is a Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funded, non-profit organization. CCLA provides free civil legal services to low-income and otherwise eligible residents of Broward County and is located in Plantation, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.  Our mission is to provide equal justice to underserved communities through quality and innovative free civil legal aid. CCLA provides legal advocacy for individuals in our community, helping thousands of economically disadvantaged residents to gain greater access to justice and much-needed legal assistance to remove barriers to a healthy and stable life. 

CCLA provides legal assistance in the areas of Family Law & Victims of Crime, Economic Advocacy & Community Health (public benefits), and Senior Law for people age 60 and older. At CCLA, we provide quality civil legal representation and equal access to justice, regardless of their income. CCLA’s vision is a community where everyone has the legal resources to thrive.

CCLA is currently seeking a hardworking, compassionate Paralegal for the Public Benefits/EACH Unit to support case preparation and management by assisting with client intake, completing prescreens and applications, preparing documents, gathering relevant documents and pleadings, communicating with clients and government agencies, and entering data into the organization’s case management system. This position assists the legal team in representing low-income individuals and families in matters involving public benefits, including Social Security (SSDI and SSI), Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and access to healthcare.

Position Duties 

• Answer incoming phone calls and promptly return calls and emails.
• Follow up on referrals from internal units, partner organizations, agencies, and online intake sources.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish or English and Haitian Creole (spoken and written) required.
• Schedule intake appointments and meetings with applicants.
• Complete conflict checks, pre-screens, and full intake assessments.
• Provide administrative and litigation support to attorneys and paralegals.
• Draft correspondence, basic legal documents, and forms for attorney review.
• Conduct client intake and gather preliminary information for attorney evaluation.
• Determine applicant eligibility for legal services in accordance with program guidelines.
• Assist clients with completing applications and forms related to public benefits programs.
• File documents through electronic filing portals and assist with document preparation, copying, scanning, and faxing.
• Communicate with clients and outside agencies by phone, email, and in person as required. 
• Maintain accurate records, case notes, and daily timekeeping in the organization’s case management system.
• Support community outreach activities, including educational presentations and distribution of informational materials, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management, supervisors, or as required by grant obligations.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, and/or Paralegal Certificate preferred. Relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirements.
• 2–5 years’ experience preferred.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, or English and Creole (spoken and written), is required to serve the client community effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and general office technology.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong time-management skills.
• Ability to multitask, work efficiently, and work independently with supervision. 
• Professional demeanor and strong client-service orientation.
• Experience or demonstrated interest in working with individuals with disabilities, public benefits programs, and/or low-income communities preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income individuals and advancing access to justice.
• All candidates must pass a background check before employment begins. 
• Due to funder requirements, all applicants must pass a background check before employment begins. {See: Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website: https://info.flclearinghouse.com}

Here at CCLA we offer our employees an outstanding and generous benefits package, which includes medical, vision, dental (100% employer paid for individual coverage), life, short-term, long-term disability insurance (100% employer paid coverage), supplemental insurance, and a 403(b) plan (tax-sheltered annuity plan) with an employer contribution.

Additionally, CCLA offers substantial discounts on gym memberships, parks, travel, pet insurance, and more, contributing to our employees' overall well-being.

CCLA is very proud of our work-life balance by giving our employees a substantial paid time off package which includes, vacation, sick leave and over 12 holidays a year. At CCLA we offer our employees (non-probationary) a more flexible work schedule by temporarily working a hybrid schedule 2 days in the office and 3 days working remotely. 

At CCLA, we foster a positive and supportive work environment where we work hard to provide exceptional service to our community. The work is both challenging and rewarding, and we take pride in the commitment and dedication of our team.

For more information about CCLA, please visit our website at www.coasttocoastlegalaid.org.

CCLA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.