Legal Assistant

Status:        Non-Exempt, Part-time

The Montana Legal Services Association has an opening for a part-time (20 hours/week) legal assistant in our Butte office. The legal assistant will conduct intakes for clients, provide support for the grant-funded Staff Attorney, and provide pro se assistance to clients under the direction of the attorney. Applicants must demonstrate excellent practice skills, strong people skills, and flexibility.

Specific Duties

• Conduct intake for new clients, and coordinate communication among the applicants, clients, intake specialists, staff attorney, and project partners as applicable.
• Accept referral forms from project partners, and when possible, obtain client authorization to share information with project partners.
• Coordinate referrals to pro bono attorneys for clients or applicants when appropriate.
• Timely communicate with applicants and clients to obtain more information as needed.
• Perform conflict screening, assist applicants with forms and coordinate with intake staff in the gathering of relevant information.
• Provide overall support to project-funded staff attorney.
• Draft correspondence, discovery and simple pleadings or use appropriate MLSA forms.
• Calendar in the system case related dates and events.
• File pleadings in local courts (conventional and electronic); service of court filings and discovery; investigate, examine and analyze documents obtained from the court files, in discovery and from other sources as needed or requested.
• Assist with case file management including organizing and maintaining electronic and paper files.
• Other duties as assigned by the staff attorney and MLSA management.

Required Skills & Attributes

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work with diverse and low-income clients in emotionally charged situations.
• Ability and willingness to work cooperatively and collegially within a decentralized statewide law firm.
• Proficient at the use of technology, including, but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets, internet-based programs and computer-based legal research.
• Willingness to learn and further develop technology skills and abilities.

Preferred Skills & Attributes

• Associate’s degree or paralegal training.

• Prior legal experience, but a demonstrated commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion through volunteer activities and internships is valued.
• An understanding of the civil equal justice legal needs of low-income people, including the unique needs of populations that experience particular barriers to access to justice systems, and of effective approaches and methods for addressing those needs.
• Experience working collaboratively and empathetically with diverse groups of colleagues, firm partners, and clients who have varying cultural backgrounds, perspectives, experience, and expertise.

Equal Opportunity Employer