Paralegal Req-5192

BronxWorks Legal Services – Early Intervention Team

The BronxWorks model aims to break the cycle of poverty by mobilizing the organization’s extensive resources to apply a holistic and progressive approach, helping individuals and families transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. A crucial component of this continuum of support is BronxWorks Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to those seeking immigration stability, facing eviction, and surviving domestic violence and other crimes.

Within BronxWorks Legal Services, the Early Intervention Team plays a vital role in securing housing stability by representing low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and advocating for essential public benefits to preserve affordable housing. The program ensures low-income tenants have access to full legal representation in eviction proceedings, as well as early legal advice and assistance with public benefits applications.

BronxWorks seeks Public Benefits paralegals eager to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting and zealously advance creative strategies to help vulnerable clients avoid eviction and remain in their homes. Each paralegal will support a team of staff attorneys, reporting to the Legal Service department’s Case Management Supervisor, and will also provide direct client advocacy. The role involves supporting case administration, advocating for clients at administrative hearings and proceedings, as well as assisting clients to access and retain benefits and subsidies. The Early Intervention Team offers an excellent opportunity to launch or grow a public interest career, hone paralegal and case management skills, and meaningfully contribute to efforts to prevent displacement of Bronx communities

Client Advocacy and Application Assistance

• Under attorney supervision, communicate case information to clients.
• Assist clients in applying for and securing housing subsidies and public benefits, such as emergency rent arrears assistance, FHEPS, CityFHEPS, cash assistance, SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, and HASA benefits.
• Serve as client liaison/advocate to coordinate with internal and external programs and agencies to ensure timely and integrated service delivery.
• Assess client needs and make referrals to appropriate services both within and outside BronxWorks.
• Analyze rent-stabilized client rent amounts and advocate to correct unlawful rents.
• May assist clients in completing applications for fair hearings and other administrative proceedings.
• May represent clients as housing advocate in administrative agency proceedings and hearings, such as before HRA, HCR, or HPD, including to challenge denials, reductions, or terminations of public benefits and housing subsidies, and including in NYCHA termination of tenancy proceedings.
• Assist attorneys at court and administrative proceedings.

Provide Research, Investigative, and Drafting Support

• Under attorney supervision, research legal sources and procedural requirements.
• Under attorney supervision, draft documents such as subpoenas, letters of advocacy, affidavits, stipulations, orders to show cause, motions, petitions, and forms for administrative hearings.
• Investigate case facts, interview clients and witnesses, collect documents, and assist in developing case strategies.

• Associate degree and two years applicable experience or bachelor’s degree.
• Excellent research, oral and written communication, and analytical skills.
• Strong attention to detail and concern for quality and accuracy.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills. Able to effectively communicate and build trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds, external resource providers, and people experiencing crisis.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills including the ability to manage a diverse and fast-paced caseload, multi-task, and produce quality work on tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Sharepoint, and other standard business technology, including electronic case management and communication systems.
• Must be able to work effectively within a team structure as well as independently.

Preferred Qualifications & Plus Factors

• Verbal and written proficiency in a language other than English, especially Spanish or another language commonly spoken by Bronx residents.
• Prior professional experience assisting clients with housing subsidy applications, such as emergency rent arrears assistance, FHEPS, CityFHEPS. Prior professional experience with public benefits assistance and advocacy.
• Prior paralegal experience in a litigation practice.
• Paralegal certificate.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and working in with low-income and vulnerable populations and communities of color to advance equity.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to use a computer for prolonged periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, or sit for long periods of time.
• Ability to climb five flights of stairs, if required to conduct home visits and/or fieldwork.
• Ability to travel in the boroughs of New York City and its adjacent counties via public transportation. 

Ability to travel for a minimum of 1 mile within a reasonable amount of time and in all types of weather, including inclement weather, if required to conduct home visits and/or field work.