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Locations: Lafayette, Alexandria, Shreveport

Law Units: CINC, Family Law, General Law

Work Status: Full-Time

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is “to provide exceptional civil legal services by advocating for fairness, protection, and justice for our disadvantaged client community.” ALSC is committed to improving the lives of marginalized low-income and elderly clients with civil legal matters throughout our service area, covering 42 parishes in north, central, and southwest Louisiana. ALSC focuses on various civil law issues including Family Law, Child in Need of Care, Disaster Recovery, Domestic Violence, Public Benefits, Elder Law, Successions, Housing, and Consumer Law. ALSC respects the values, worth, and dignity of all individuals. We foster compassion and encourage innovation, accountable stewardship, and integrity. With over 100 employees in seven offices across Louisiana, we are dedicated to seeking equal legal justice for all.

This position assists attorneys with the provision of quality legal service to clients to Acadiana Legal Service Corporation. Generally, work is completed as assigned, however, the position requires initiative and resourcefulness in following lines of research, corporation policies and procedures, and attentive listening to client’s complaints. General supervision is provided by a Senior Paralegal and/or Paralegal Coordinator.

Duties may includes and are not limited to (tasks will vary based on substantive unit):

• Conduct legal research, preparation of legal summaries and memoranda and assistance in preparing correspondence on legal matters
• Prepares cases for attorneys to present in court, including the drafting of pleadings
• Prepares letters, memoranda, drafts, legal documents, in forma pauperis affidavits, and other correspondence as assigned
• Review and proofread documents and correspondence to ensure accuracy
• Conducts initial interview of applicants for screening, eligibility, referrals, and applications for legal assistance
• Greets and screens callers and visitors, making referrals to appropriate personnel or personally resolving the matter
• Refer clients and advocates to appropriate available community resources
• Communicate with clients, coworkers, community partners, opposing counsel, judges, and court staff effectively
• Provide administrative support including copying, scanning, faxing, and mailing documents
• Assists attorneys with case opening, closing, scanning, filing, surveys, and reports
• Create, organize, and maintain data bank files and templates in accordance with recognized procedures and standards
• Assists other support staff as needed and all other duties as assigned
• Assists in maintaining public benefits resource materials
• Assists in Private Bar Involvement activities
• Assists attorneys in researching laws and court decisions for determining the most appropriate legal action
• Assists in design and presentation of in-house training sessions for other employees
• Represents Acadiana Legal Service Corporation in various community events, focusing on issues relevant to the poor
• Transmits legal documents to the courthouse and maintains telephone contact as required

• Some knowledge of procedures and techniques used in legal research, including the various related sources of legal information
• Adequate working knowledge of legal terminology and legal formats
• Adequate skill in typing, filing and general office operation practices
• Ability to maintain complex records and to prepare reports from such records
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with clients, attorneys, staff and the general public
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions
• Ability to compose and prepare routine and technical legal correspondence

• Graduate of an accredited four-year college or university
• Non-college graduate acceptable upon completion of a two-year paralegal training program or one-year relevant experience with a law firm or other legal services program

Salary starts at $28,139.00.

Benefits Include

• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance