Legal Assistant

Summary

The Legal Assistant is primarily responsible for supporting the direct legal services of attorneys in Her Justice’s Family & Matrimonial and Immigration practice groups. The Assistant conducts intake and follow-up with clients seeking legal assistance in family, matrimonial and immigration law and supports the overall work of the staff attorneys. In this role you will provide administrative support to the Department of Law and Policy to help ensure the quality of services for Her Justice clients.

Responsibilities

Legal Support: 70%

Intake 20%

• Facilitate initial communication with prospective and existing clients.
• Provide referrals as needed and conduct full telephone intake when appropriate.
• Make an initial assessment of case status and eligibility for services.
• Own the collection of pertinent demographic data, address safety issues, cross reference case status in e-courts, and provide intake summary for the reviewing attorney.
  
  

Family Matrimonial Legal Support 25%

• Follow up with clients to gather necessary information and documentation for their cases, schedule appointments, coordinate referrals to social services and provide information gathered to staff attorneys.
• Aid in providing documentation such as fee waivers and other pertinent information to pro-bono teams as requested by assigned attorneys.
• Under the supervision of a staff attorney:
• Draft initial documents of uncontested divorce documents in the Supreme Courts of NYC.
• Draft stipulations and motions.
• Draft affidavits for Supreme and Family court case.
  

Immigration Legal Support 25%

• Assist attorneys during immigration consultations, including collecting relevant documents needed for case assessment.
• Assist attorneys with client follow-up post consultation, including scheduling appointments, meetings, and collecting documents.
• Assist the immigration team as needed, including obtaining records requests, FOIA requests, FBI fingerprinting, U Certifications, and certificates of disposition from New York County and Queens County Criminal Court; researching country conditions; drafting immigration filings; and working on in-house immigration cases as appropriate.
• Conduct trauma informed interviews with clients to obtain information needed for case assessment and supporting affidavits.
• Provide advocacy letters and similar brief services to clients, as appropriate.
  
  

Administrative Support: 20%

• Provide Spanish interpretation between clients and Her Justice staff attorneys and translation of documents with affidavits of translation as appropriate.
• Collaborate with in-house legal administrative volunteers and interns on intake procedures and legal administrative support as needed.
• Mail correspondence, meet with clients in the Her Justice office to facilitate brief services or conduct interviews, prepare documentation for filing, pick up certified documents from the courts, etc.
• Preparing welcome packet and completing onboarding forms for new externs
• Keep master spreadsheet of extern cases: firm, status, deadlines, etc.
• Updating and maintaining client information in client database (Legal Server)
  
  

Organizational Support: 10%

• Assist with the development and organization of community-based trainings and clinics, special events, and outreach activities.
• Assist in onboarding and development of training materials for Her Justice staff as appropriate.
• Participate in fundraising, volunteer recognition and other Her Justice events.
• Participate in learning, conversations and implementation of Her Justice goals related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access.
  
  

Qualifications

• Associate degree required, bachelor's degree preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in a legal administrative role.
• Proficiency in both English and Spanish is required for this role.
  
  

Computer Skills And Requirements

• Microsoft Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
• LegalServer
• SLACK
• Google suite (Docs, Sheets, etc.)
• Intermediate/Advanced Adobe/Nitro, or other applicable pdf programs
• Video call/conferencing platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and Facetime
• Working knowledge of the NY Court website including NYSCEF and EDDS
  
  

Working Conditions

• Legal Assistant is a non-exempt staff position.
• This position usually works a standard 35 hours work week.
• Hybrid with one day a week in office (subject to change based on business needs).
• This position may be required to work some overtime hours to participate in special events (i.e., benefits, other fundraising events) and/or to meet in-house litigation or reporting deadlines. Overtime hours must be reviewed and approved by a direct supervisor.
  
  

Salary: Commensurate with experience, expected to be $52,852 to $58,137. Benefits include medical insurance, 401K plan, and liberal vacation policy.

Salary : $52,852 - $58,137