Paralegal - Public Benefits (Veterans' Rights Project)

1 month ago

Chicago, United States Legal Aid Chicago Full time

Legal Aid Chicago encourages applicants with relevant volunteer and work experience, who have experiences with our client communities or individuals who identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, or otherwise having backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented in the legal profession to apply.

For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our offices, located in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position may require travel to court or other outreach events.

The Public Benefits Practice Group (PBPG) challenges wrongful denials, terminations, calculations, overpayments, and sanctions concerning benefits from the Department of Human Services including SNAP, TANF, AABD Cash, and Medicaid. The group also challenges wrongful denials, terminations, and overpayments concerning benefits from the Social Security Administration including SSI and Social Security Disability benefits. The Veterans Rights Project within PBPG seeks to meet the holistic civil legal needs of military veterans and their families with special emphasis on benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Position: Veterans Rights Project Paralegal

Responsibilities: The paralegal will work under the direct supervision of an attorney and the authority conferred upon the paralegal in the handling of cases or client service functions is determined by the supervisory attorney. The paralegal will handle all functions related to casework, from initial intake through representation of clients at administrative hearings. The duties of the paralegal include the following:

  • Conduct intake for the Veterans' Rights Project at Legal Aid Chicago. Manage an active phone system and provide response calls to veterans seeking legal assistance. As part of the intake process: communicate with clients to conduct intake, conduct interview and initial fact gathering, consult with supervising attorney as to proper course of action, preserve the confidence of clients, avoid conflicts of interest, maintain the same ethical standards of conduct required of attorneys
  • Provide advice and referral to individuals not accepted as clients and make appropriate referrals to additional or alternative legal services and to necessary social services
  • Represent clients by undertaking such activities as: factual and legal research, devise, review, revise and implement case strategy, prepare a case for hearing, draft legal papers, negotiate, present evidence, interrogate witnesses, conduct oral advocacy, and properly prepare the client and maintain an ongoing relationship
  • Participate in maintaining good community relations by acting as a liaison between community groups and the Legal Aid Chicago staff. Tasks may include, without limitation: outreach and community education to veterans groups and social service agency personnel; advocacy training in legal rights and entitlement to above-named groups; training of staff, and other groups, when assigned to or approved by the supervisory attorney
  • Assist the Veterans Rights Project in conducting community clinics and events with pro bono attorneys
  • Apply proper eligibility standards, both financial and subject matters, in accepting clients for service
  • Maintain knowledge of law and procedures related to benefits administered by the Veterans Administration, the Social Security Administration, and the Illinois Department of Human Services
  • Prepare reports and statistics related to cases and other projects
  • Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant issues
  • Track data related to grants and assist on related reporting
  • Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant issues
  • Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case management system
  • Support attorneys in all stages of litigation
  • Assist attorneys with administrative tasks
  • Maintain proficiency with all equipment, computer hardware and software necessary to perform the duties of the position and
  • Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorneys and Director
Salary and Benefits:

This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.

The Paralegal position begins at $44,863 and increases for every relevant year of experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Bilingual Paralegals are eligible for an additional stipend
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
  • Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
  • 19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
  • Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
  • 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
  • $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
  • Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
  • Monthly internet reimbursement
  • Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program
Requirements

Applicants must have:

Excellent oral and written skills and a demonstrated interest or experience working with Legal Aid Chicago's client populations. The applicant's personal background, experience, or professional background should reflect an ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers and the community we serve. Good organizational and information-gathering skills as well as strong and versatile computer skills are essential. Ability to work collaboratively with others and to draft documents including letters and basic pleadings is essential as is experience and competence advocating for other people.

Preferred applicants will have:
  • An undergraduate degree
  • Familiarity with public benefit program eligibility criteria;
  • Experience and comfort interacting with people living in poverty, veterans, trauma survivors, and people with physical, mental and cognitive disabilities;


To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. For applicants with previous work experience, at least one reference must be a former supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, or ex-offender status, or any other protected status.

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding an application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.

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