Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy - Paralegal-Advocate Education Law Program

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (the "Advocacy Center"), a nonprofit agency that provides free or low-cost legal assistance in civil matters to low-income persons in the Charlotte region, seeks a paralegal-advocate for its Education Law Program ("ELP") to support the ELP's staff and program. ELP works to reduce and dismantle barriers to educational access and ensure that students' individualized needs are met in public schools. More information about the Advocacy Center and ELP can be found on our website: CharlotteLegalAdvocacy.org.

ROLE:

The paralegal-advocate will assist with various support tasks in coordination with ELP attorneys. The paralegal-advocate is responsible for conducting client intakes, handling referrals, maintaining accurate files and data, assisting with legal research, drafting, hearing preparation, and other related program duties. ELP seeks a team member who is committed to addressing educational inequity and thrives in a collegial, dynamic team environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with a diverse array of individuals, including attorneys, paralegals, clients, government agencies, and community partners
• Develop a strong working knowledge of education law and familiarity with other community resources available for children and their families
• Screen and interview individuals for eligibility of our services, determining whether individual cases meet case acceptance criteria in a timely and prompt manner
• Assist in the collection of ELP data and confirmation of data accuracy
• Open and close all ELP files and maintain overall organization of these files
• Assist attorneys in specific cases, including maintaining contact with clients, preparing and mailing correspondence, requesting and reviewing records, conducting case investigation and legal research, interpreting, translating, and drafting legal documents
• Actively and efficiently manage caseloads alongside the attorneys
• Assist in the coordination and implementation of ELP community outreach and training
• Assist the Advancement Team with organizational fundraising activities, as needed

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

Ideal candidate qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree, or associate's degree and equivalent experience
• A minimum of two years' legal administrative experience is preferred, but not required
• Paralegal certification or equivalent experience is preferred, but not required
• Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to work with adults and children who are in crisis situations
• Commitment, experience and/or desire to work with diverse low-income populations
• Ability to identify clients' needs quickly and accurately
• Excellent organizational skills and computer/data-entry skills
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated and dependable
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite and Adobe
• Commitment to the Advocacy Center's mission and vision
• *Spanish proficiency is strongly preferred*

REPORTS TO:

The paralegal-advocate reports to the Co-Directors of ELP.

WORK SCHEDULE:

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy supports a hybrid work schedule with core work hours, Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM.

SALARY:

This position is a full-time salary, non-exempt position. The annual salary range begins at

$42,204 and may vary depending upon experience and skills.

BENEFITS:

The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy offers a generous leave and benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage at 100% for employees; 22 paid days of General Leave increasing proportionately with tenure; at least 12 paid holidays; and 100% employer-paid professional liability. Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy also offers parental leave, life insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, and a salary reduction option for flexible spending accounts, dependent care accounts, or health savings accounts.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, it is the policy of the Advocacy Center to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact hr- confidential@charlottelegaladvocacy.org.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of reemployment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

TO APPLY:

Submit a cover letter and resume. Please be sure to upload both documents. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a preference for applications received by April 17, 2026.