Bilingual consumer legal assistant

Location

San Rafael, CA | United States

Job description

Bilingual Consumer Protection Legal Assistant, Full-Time Position, San Rafael, California

Our Mission:

Legal Aid of Marin provides no-cost, holistic, civil legal services and resources to Marin County residents experiencing poverty and individuals who are currently, or have historically been, marginalized. Legal Aid of Marin’s mission is to create an equitable Marin by empowering the community through legal representation, advocacy, and education. We envision an inclusive Marin with equal justice and opportunity for all.

Our Impact:

Legal Aid of Marin (LAM) is a growing, collaborative, civil legal services organization based in San Rafael, California. Each year, LAM Staff provide thousands of Marin residents with access to direct civil legal services and resources. Our priorities include: recovering wages for immigrant workers; advocating on behalf of tenants and enforcing renter protections; providing legal services aimed at homelessness prevention and housing preservation; representing individuals in consumer protection matters, connecting seniors with estate planning services; restoring driver’s licenses and eliminating fines through the Marin Community Court program; increasing access to pro bono legal services in partnership with the private bar; and connecting Marin residents to local community-based organizations providing access to social services. Our Staff works collaboratively to bring services to the community we serve by engaging in regular outreach in partnership with community-based organizations across Marin. We practice holistic and trauma-informed lawyering, working tirelessly to increase Marin County residents’ access to the civil justice system.

Position Overview:

LAM seeks a legal assistant who is passionate, client-centered, and trauma-informed with a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice to support LAM’s Consumer Protection Program. This position will involve daily work supporting Marin community members with marginalized identities, including but not limited to immigrants, BIPOC individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, people experiencing poverty, and people struggling with housing instability. Also, the legal assistant will screen community members for LAM’s other in-house services, including employment law (workers’ rights and antidiscrimination), housing law (unlawful detainer and homelessness prevention), Community Court, and estate planning.

Essential Functions:

• Under the supervision of the Consumer Protection Staff Attorney, communicate with clients, draft letters and other legal documents, create client outreach resources, conduct legal research, prepare for hearings, and other litigation support;
• Conduct client intakes at LAM’s office, by telephone, and at off-site outreach locations;
• Maintain complete and accurate client files in LAM’s case management system and other databases as needed;
• Address client needs holistically through effective referrals to community partners and government agencies;
• Interpret between Spanish and English as needed;
• Provide administrative support, such as creating and maintaining informational flyers, client files, and data entry;
• Make presentations, attend workshops, and engage in community outreach;
• Make connections with community partners to facilitate clients’ access to these resources;
• Maintain complete and accurate client data for tracking and reporting;
• Record and provide data to support organizational reporting requirements from the Programs Officer and Executive Director; and
• Complete additional tasks when required by the Consumer Protection Staff Attorney, Managing Attorney, Programs Officer, and Executive Director.

Required Qualifications:

• Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, both spoken and written; • Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to build consensus and contribute to collaborative environment;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Willingness to receive feedback and address areas for improvement;
• Ability to follow instructions and complete tasks in a timely and effective manner;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with clients, attorneys, coworkers, and community partners;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to perform detailed work in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to multi-task, be proactive, and work independently as well as on a team;
• Excellent computer skills, including data entry and reports, as well as Microsoft Office Suite;
• Strong interest in providing legal services to marginalized & underserved people in Marin;
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and insurance; and
• Knowledge of Marin County’s resources and organizations.

Remote Work:

This position is authorized for remote work two days per week. The other three days must be performed at LAM’s office in San Rafael, California. And will involve off-site work and outreach to rural areas of Marin County. The Consumer Protection Staff Attorney must approve the schedule for remote work which is subject to change in light of organizational needs.

Compensation:

This position is full-time and non-exempt with an hourly rate of $31. Overtime hours (beyond 40) are permitted at the discretion of LAM’s Executive Director. Benefits include paid holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan participation, and employer contribution to retirement after six months.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume via email to: [email protected] . No phone calls, please. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered . Our review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Due to the number of candidates, we will only contact candidates moving forward in the interviewing process.

Legal Aid of Marin is committed to promoting a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ community members, veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals from historically underrepresented groups to apply. We are an equal-opportunity employer and refrain from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

January 2024

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $31.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Microsoft Office: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Job tags

Salary