Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks an Intake Paralegal/Administrative Assistant to work in its Kinship Care Unit located in downtown Atlanta. Our non-profit law firm represents low-income people in a variety of civil legal matters including family, housing, consumer, public benefits, education and health law. The Kinship Care Unit’s primary goal is to stabilize family relationships for children living with a non-parent caregiver (relative or fictive kin). We assist with adoptions, minor guardianships, custody, and a variety of other issues affecting the family unit. Although physically based in downtown Atlanta, we serve the five-county Metro area, and also provide some state-wide assistance. The Kinship Care Unit staff currently consists of a managing attorney, four staff attorneys and one paralegal.
Responsibilities: The Intake Paralegal/Administrative Assistant is responsible for screening clients and completing questionnaires for minor guardianship, third party custody, adoption, visitation, public benefits, education, school enrollment and other cases as needed; providing basic advice and case handling on applying for public benefits such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; communicating with and making referrals to the Department of Family and Children Service’s Kinship Navigators; handling internal and external referrals to and from the Kinship Care Unit; assisting the Senior Paralegal with preparing for the weekly case acceptance meeting and taking meeting minutes; case handling, including providing clients with information and advice under attorney supervision; preparing closing letters; drafting conflict letters; assisting attorneys during document execution and with preparation, organization, trial binders, notarization (must be or be willing to become a notary public), and mailing; data management, including accurately entering new case information into Legal Aid’s client database and other databases for grant compliance purposes; tracking cases to ensure proper documentation is gathered and updating proper funding codes; preparing reports for funders and completing required survey requests; file management, including scanning documents into client database, filing and archiving closed cases; assisting with the timely review and documentation of closed case files for review by the Managing Attorney; and other paralegal/administrative assistant work as needed.
Qualifications: An undergraduate degree or paralegal certificate is preferred but not required. Applicants must possess strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, excellent computer skills including a high level of proficiency with word processing and accurate data entry, and experience with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Excellent writing, communication and listening skills; ability to communicate effectively with clients, families, doctors, social workers, and hospital staff; ability to work on a team and alone; adaptability; appreciation of diversity; a demonstrated interest in or experience working with low-income people; and ready access to a working vehicle are required. Knowledge of health, education and poverty law are preferred. Experience with law office management software, and proficiency in languages other than English and willingness to improve language skills are highly valued.
Salary and Benefits: The salary is $34,500+ depending upon experience. Salaries increase annually based on a salary scale. The program provides generous fringe benefits, including 13 paid holidays, 6 weeks paid time off, 6 weeks parental leave; health, life, and long and short-term disability insurance; partial payment for dependent health insurance; a salary reduction option for a flexible spending account; educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month (after a set off of other loan reimbursement amounts); and voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with 3% match. Legal Aid also offers a hybrid work schedule that allows staff to work 2 days remotely subject to management approval and after a probationary employment period.
Application Requirements: Submit a letter of interest; resume; recent writing sample (email, letter or memorandum); school transcript (a copy is acceptable pending your order of an official transcript); and the names, phone numbers and email addresses of three professional references (preferably individuals who have supervised or managed your work) as one (1) PDF using our online application system at atlantalegalaid.org/jobs.
For technical difficulties in submitting your application, please email [email protected].
Your application will be acknowledged. No phone calls please.
ALAS considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected status.