Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks a Paralegal to work in its Kinship Care Unit housed in the downtown Atlanta office. 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. 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 intake paralegal.
Responsibilities: The Paralegal is responsible for the primary litigation support, backup intake support, and case management for minor guardianship, third party custody, adoption, visitation, public benefits, education, school enrollment and other cases as needed; drafting and preparing of pleadings, filing cases at court and/or e-filing for attorneys, assisting attorneys during document execution and with preparation, organization, trial binders, notarization (must be or be willing to become a notary public), and mailing, interviewing clients for secondary case information, case handling, including providing clients with information and advice under attorney supervision; preparing closing letters; drafting conflict letters; data management, including accurately entering new case information into multiple databases; tracking cases to ensure proper documentation is gathered and updating funding codes; 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, their families, and others as needed; ability to work well 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 family law, 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 18 paid holidays (in 2024), 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 weekly remotely, subject to management approval and after a probationary employment period. This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
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 e-mail 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.
Your application will be acknowledged. No phone calls please. For assistance with technical difficulties in submitting your application, please email [email protected].
ALAS considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other legally protected status.