Overview
Legal Assistant/Intake Coordinator (Requirement: Fluent Spanish-speaking)
Grow Brooklyn’s mission is to preserve and grow the assets of our community members, thereby securing their economic future, through the provision of free tax preparation, financial and housing counseling and legal services. Grow Brooklyn’s legal services division is geared towards supporting low- and middle-income homeowners and their families pursue this goal, specifically by providing services in foreclosure defense, estate-planning and estate administration. Most of Grow Brooklyn’s clients come from majority Black and brown communities in New York City.
Position Description
We have established the position of Legal Services Assistance/Paralegal to support the attorneys in our Legal Services program.
Grow Brooklyn Legal Services attorneys counsel, assist, and represent clients in need of Foreclosure Prevention/Defense, Estate Planning, Probate & Administration, and Title Resolution. You will be the first point of contact for all new clients; opening new files in our law practice management software, entering initial contact and demographic information, and performing conflict-of-interest reviews(?). You will also play a key role in our Estate Planning services: performing vital administrative duties and acting as witness for client legal documents.
On an as-needed basis, the Legal Services Assistant/Paralegal will also work with our Director of Outreach in our community outreach by distributing printed material and promoting Grow Brooklyn’s legal services programming through various grassroots campaigns that open communication channels between GB and the community at large.
Role & Responsibilities:
The Legal Services Assistant/Paralegal will have substantial client contact, and will conduct community outreach. The person in this role will be supervised by the Director of Legal Services. The Legal Services Assistant/Paralegal’s responsibilities include:
- Being a professional and courteous initial contact for new clients; speaking with callers and reaching out to referrals and gathering information about their situations.
- Opening new electronic files and entering all required information for new clients, including collecting and uploading any necessary documents and cross-referencing GB records for conflicts-of-interest with prior clients.
- Witnessing and signing estate planning documents.
- Working with Staff Attorneys to modify mortgage loans.
- Clerical and administrative duties, including but not limited to preparing Estate Plan documents, deeds, and any necessary copies for in-person document signings.
- Assisting with in-person Legal Services outreach efforts in coordination with the Director of Outreach (occasional travel within the 5 boroughs will be required).
Skills, Experiences and Qualifications:
- Excellent and professional interviewing, writing, and communication skills;
- Experience serving low-income clients preferred;
- College degree or commensurate experience;
- Excellent organizational skills;
- Microsoft Office Suite;
- Google App Suite;
- A strong passion for social and economic justice, anti-racism, and empowering the lives of low-income, senior, and immigrant populations;
- Web-based cloud software experience preferred;
- 1-2 years of experience in a legal environment preferred;
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.
Hybrid remote work policy with (3 days in the office – flexible work schedule) and excellent benefits package. To safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, GB requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Please submit a cover letter when you apply. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls.
1-2 years of experience in a legal environment preferred.
COVID-19 considerations:
To safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, GB requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.