Paralegal-Advocate Unit

Be a part of an organization making a difference in the Central Florida community! As an Orlando Business Journal’s2021 Best Places to Work Honoree, Orlando Sentinel’s 2022 Best Workplaces Honoree, and a SHRM Mental Health Ally, Community Legal Services (CLS) is a full service civil legal aid law firm that promotes equal access to justice, specifically for the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

CLS offers:

• 15 paid holidays and 24 days of paid time off
• Excellent physical/mental health, vision, and benefits (With 95% of benefits paid for by company)
• 100% Coverage with Dental Benefits, Life Insurance, Long/Short Term Disability
• 100% 403B match after 1 year of employment (5%)
• CLS pays Bar Dues and CLE Credits
• Student loan reimbursement for Attorneys
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Ability to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Fantastic work-life balance
• Various opportunities for upward mobility into leadership/more advanced roles
• Pet Insurance
• Wellness Committee dedicated to employee morale, with events such as company wide retreats, activities, and challenges!

CLS is currently searching for a service-minded, mission driven individual to fulfill the following position:

Reports to and receives general direction from Director of Advocacy, Staff Attorney or designee; the paralegal provides paraprofessional legal services to eligible clients in civil and other cases, under the direct supervision of an attorney, in accordance with the program’s mission and principles of advocacy, other program guidelines, the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services and the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct.

• Assist clients within the entire Community Legal Services (CLS) service area which may require frequent travel throughout the CLS service areas for meetings.
• Complete Client Intake processes and determine client eligibility for legal services in accordance with program policies and procedures.
• Gather information, interview clients and witnesses; investigate and develop cases; prepare written reports to attorneys detailing the results of the interview/investigation.
• Make and follow up on referrals of clients to appropriate alternative or additional sources of assistance.
• Work jointly in partnership with supervising attorney on assigned cases.
• Represent clients at administrative hearings within the guidelines governing advocacy by non-attorneys.
• Maintain accurate, complete, well-organized electronic case/project records, files, and calendars.
• Perform legal research including use of computer-based databases, e.g., Thomson-Reuters/Case Text computerized practice software.
• Keep abreast of new areas of the law, particularly areas of housing stability, income maintenance, access to justice, and other firm priorities.
• Serve process and execute appropriate affidavits of service; serve witness subpoenas and other papers, as requested; files legal papers with appropriate courts.
• Participate in outreach to clients and community groups to strengthen community partnerships.
• As requested, participate in fundraising activities and public relations.
• May participate in the orientation and training of employees and volunteers, including law school interns.
• Actively participate in umbrella groups and taskforces.
• Greet clients, applicants, and other visitors to the office in a courteous and polite manner.
• Answer telephones and refer callers to appropriate staff members, other CLS offices or other agencies, as appropriate.
• Open and distribute mail and provide other clerical services, as necessary.
• May perform duties of the work of higher or lower classified positions, as assigned.

• Commitment
  • Demonstrating commitment to promoting the mission, vision, and values of CLS.
  • Unwavering dedication to high-quality legal programs, fiscal strength, and organizational integrity.
  • Commitment to continued learning and training.
• Background and Experience
  • Legal Studies Education and/or Paralegal certification.
  • Experience with executing strategic plans preferred.
  • Law firm experience (2+ years), experience in support of litigation and commitment working with low-income and/or vulnerable clients and…