Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) Legal Assistant

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Practice Group: Disability Advocacy Program

Organization Information

Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a Legal Assistant for our Disability Advocacy Program. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State. 

Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We achieve success through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and effective legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates, ensuring fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced high levels of oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.

Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island provide staff with an exciting, dynamic, and inclusive working environment, characterized by a strong commitment to work-life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development.

Position Summary 

Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a Legal Assistant for our Disability Advocacy Program. The Legal Assistant will provide support to attorneys and paralegals, primarily located in our Rochester office. The work includes intake coordination (greeting clients, answering phones, copying, scanning, and data entry), as well as case file management and development (opening and closing files, obtaining medical and school records). This position reports to a Supervising Senior Paralegal or another position within the DAP practice group. 

Salary

The referenced pay range represents the estimated minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries or hourly rates will be determined within the job's compensation range, taking into account factors such as education, experience, qualifications, personal expertise, market data, and internal equity considerations.

The salary range for this position is $40,000 to $45,000 per year.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

· Travel to and work in the Rochester Telesca Center office is required to meet client and organizational needs.

· Greet walk-in clients. 

· Engage in administrative duties, including, but not limited to, taking and returning phone calls, drafting correspondence, data entry, filing, copying, and scanning documents. 

· Manage calendars of attorneys and senior paralegals in the practice group. 

· Review, process, and manage mail and email communications.

· Organize and maintain client case files during the initial intake phase, ensuring all documentation is current and complete. 

· Track key case deadlines, including appeal filing dates and hearing schedules. 

· Monitor and manage case status through Social Security Administration (SSA) systems (e.g., ERE/ARPS, Case Access).

· Conduct client intakes, gather preliminary information, and explain the case process. 

· Maintain ongoing communication with clients regarding case updates, missing documents, and appointments until the client is reassigned within the practice group. 

· Obtain signed forms, releases, and authorizations.

· Prepare and file SSA forms when necessary before opening a case. 

· Communicate with the Social Security Administration as needed to gather information. 

· Collect medical records, employment histories, and supporting evidence in the development phase when determining representation.

· Must demonstrate high comfort and commitment to working with disadvantaged and disabled clientele.

· Please note that all positions require supervising other practice group members if needed.

· Other duties as assigned to meet the organization’s needs. 

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) 

· At least 3 years of relevant experience. 

· Must be able to assist in a confidential capacity and maintain confidentiality when needed.

· Demonstrated excellence in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint), and ability to learn other applications quickly.

· Must demonstrate strong communication skills, including proficiency in technology that facilitates the delivery of communication, documents, and other materials.

· Must demonstrate excellent skills in document and form creation, pulling reports, and word processing.

· Excellent grammar, spelling, and punctuation skills.

· Experience working collaboratively and effectively with other team members.

· Must have the ability to work independently and effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic organization and have a hybrid capacity.

· Experience in and commitment to working with marginalized communities.

Preferred Qualifications

· Bilingual in Spanish

Physical Demands and Work Environment

This position requires extensive use of computers and participation in phone and virtual meetings as part of the job. As such, the person in the position must be able to remain stationary for the majority of the time. The position requires constant computer operation and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine, scanner, and computer printer. The ability to communicate information and ideas clearly so that others can understand is crucial. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. 

Our office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The ability to work in the office during these hours is critical for this position.