Paralegal — Coos Bay Office

POSITION: Oregon Law Center (OLC) seeks a full-time Paralegal to support the provision of civil legal services to low-income clients. The position does not require formal paralegal certification or training. The position is based in our Coos Bay office and serves clients throughout Coos, Curry, and Western Douglas Counties. Located on the rugged southern Oregon coast with the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America, Coos Bay has beautiful beaches, forests, and rivers that offer many recreational opportunities. Coos Bay also has a significant Native American population and is famous in the athletic world as the home of track star Steve Prefontaine.

ABOUT US: OLC is a legal services program committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services. OLC operates eleven offices around the state. It has a litigation support unit, legislative advocacy unit, and statewide farmworker program.

OLC’s Coos Bay Office is comprised of two attorneys and one paralegal. We assist clients in meeting challenges to their basic needs including freedom from violence, housing, income maintenance, and protection/enforcement of civil rights. Our office sets priorities according to client need. We seek to make a real difference in clients’ lives and to help eliminate the underlying causes of poverty.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• General office support: receptionist duties, including answer phones, receive mail, monitor, and order supplies, manage calendar

• Staff the front desk and greet visitors in a professional and positive manner

• Organize, manage, and maintain office systems and the physical office

• Conduct client intake interviews and maintain detailed and accurate case notes

• Assist attorneys with litigation and other forms of advocacy, including but not limited to: investigation, witness interviews, factual and legal research, document review and other aspects of trial preparation
• Conduct outreach and community presentations and produce educational materials

• Provide general information and referrals
• Help with other office projects as needed
• Occasional travel throughout Coos, Curry and Western Douglas counties

OLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive organization and a healthy work environment for all staff. We strongly encourage people from diverse backgrounds and communities to apply for a job with us. Many of our employees come from backgrounds that have not always been represented in the legal field or have not been socially or economically privileged. This helps them be more effective advocates for our clients and contributes to our strength as an organization. Even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described, we hope you will consider applying, and we welcome your application.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrated commitment to justice for low-income communities.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, sense of humor, flexible and curious attitude.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently to complete tasks.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams), Adobe, Zoom, and cloud-based phone services.

SALARY/BENEFITS: The salary scale ranges from $44,000 to $68,000 and placement on the scale is determined by years of relevant experience. Additional compensation for bilingual ability. Competitive benefits package includes individual and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage, employer retirement contribution, generous paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, and paid moving expenses, among others.

HOW TO APPLY: Review of resumes to begin February 1, 2024. Position open until filled. To apply, submit your resume, cover letter, and list of three references to Bill Niese, Managing Attorney, bniese@oregonlawcenter.org.

As part of your cover letter, please address the following:

OLC is committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. Our client communities include people of color, farmworkers, LGBTQ people, immigrants, seniors, people with lived experiences of homelessness, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from other underrepresented groups. It is essential to our work to serve clients that we also work to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued.

How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to: (1) serve our diverse client communities effectively, (2) work effectively with colleagues from backgrounds different than your own, (3) acknowledge the systemic barriers that our clients and some colleagues face, and (4) contribute to our efforts to achieve racial justice? Feel free to provide examples and apply various aspects of your life and personal experiences, as you respond to this question.