Elder Law Unit Outreach Paralegal

Generally, outreach Paralegals are community advocates that enable GLSP information and services to be delivered beyond the Program’s physical offices. Their work to educate community partners and organize clinic events allows GLSP to provide access to justice and opportunities out of poverty into the most rural parts of Georgia. Outreach Paralegals require strong communication and planning abilities to support the communication and coordination needs of GLSP staff and external partners. The Elder Law Unit (ELU) Outreach Paralegal position requires working closely with the Director of the Elder Law Unit to support and develop GLSP’s mission of providing access to justice for seniors, as well as working with the Savannah Office to help meet its Elder Law Assistance Program (ELAP) deliverables.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Managing GLSP’s bi-weekly alerts: The ELU implemented bi-weekly alerts as a means of assisting all GLSP offices to meet their ELAP outreach and community education deliverables. The ELU Outreach Paralegal (EOP) will engage Elder Action Team (EAT) members to draft alerts and schedule the alerts quarterly. The EOP will edit the draft alerts for final review of the ELU Director, and will be expected to draft alerts, as needed. The EOP will upload the alerts to Mail Chimp for all GLSP offices to send out to their list of seniors and senior sites. They will complete the task of delivering alerts for the Savannah Office.

Providing firm wide consultation and support on outreach issues: The EOP remains available to all GLSP personnel for the purpose of consulting about outreach issues, in addition to working directly on initiatives such as developing legal clinics for seniors. These tasks include working with all GLSP offices to draft flyers, legal documents and other materials to support clinics as assigned by the ELU Director, and to make these materials available to all GLSP offices. Also, the EOP will significantly participate in the planning and implementation of ELU’s Outreach Modules as requested, as well as with other outreach initiatives.

Working with Management and other personnel to keep them updated on ELAP-specific issues:  The EOP will be required, as requested, to work with Regional Office Managers (ROMS) and other staff, management and non-management, to provide instruction and training on ELAP reporting procedures; the use of Mail Chimp; best practices on providing support to the handling of certain types of cases; clinic implementation; and other issues as assigned.

Manage, maintain and keep current the Elder Action Team SharePoint page: The EOP will regularly index, and store EAT Alerts; EAT meeting and training materials; clinic and module materials and instructions; and other materials, as directed, on the GLSP Elder Law Unit Share Point page.

Savannah Clinics, Outreach, and Events

The ELAP Outreach Paralegal must maintain strong knowledge of the needs and resources available in Savannah’s eleven (11) ELAP communities and Brunswick’s ELAP communities, and they will partner with internal and external stakeholders to deliver quality information and legal clinic events to these communities. They will present or arrange for other GLSP staff to give presentations, organize clinics using GLSP best practices, and practice effective coordination and communication skills among all partners.

The ELAP Outreach Paralegal will:

1. Conduct outreaches for all 11 of the Savannah Office counties consistent with the requirements of our ELAP contracts and Georgia’s Division of Aging ELAP Standards; 

2. Prepare and present community education sessions to senior groups, or initiate communication with and arrange for other legal staff to present these sessions, providing administrative support for these sessions;

3. Plan, prepare for, and assist legal workers with the presentation of clinics, and provide follow-up administrative support for these clinics; 

4. Provide administrative and case work support for ELAP cases for legal workers in the Savannah Office;

5. Maintain MailChimp site and client emailing lists for the Savannah Office, regularly adding the addresses of new senior clients and sites;

6. Assist legal workers in the Savannah office as requested by the Director of the ELU or the Managing Attorney of the Savannah office with special projects, such as non-ELAP legal clinics, by assisting with planning and implementation, and by utilizing the ELAP network of providers and contacts to schedule the events;

7. Assist as requested with other non-ELAP tasks and duties as requested by the Director of the ELU or the Managing Attorney of the Savannah office, in special circumstances.

Case Handling

Outreach Paralegals act as secondary case-handlers (“additional staff assignment”) for legal clinics or other legal advice events unless otherwise instructed. They provide administrative support to the case/client, and ensure all necessary information is correctly documented in a timely manner.  

Specific Tasks:

Clinics, Outreach, and Events

1. Attending fairs, expos, and other community events to conduct community/client outreach.

2. Host education events about GLSP programs and services with client-partner agencies and other stakeholder groups. Where able and relevant, conduct events in collaboration with other GLSP staff/departments.

3. Coordinate and effectively communicate with event and outreach stakeholders. This includes the identified clients/audience for events, service sites/venue partners, outreach partners, GLSP staff/internal stakeholders, and others.

4. Document and maintain best practices related to successful clinics, outreach, and events in collaboration with other GLSP staff who conduct similar work. This includes those within and outside of the Outreach Paralegal’s service region. 

5. Document all clinics and events in Legal Server appropriately, including information about the number of attendees, partner agencies, and more.

6. Develop goals/strategies for improving clinic and other event practices in coordination with internal and external partners. Ensure that all strategies comply with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations.

7. Ensure all outreach materials comply with the Department of Development and Communications standards for GLSP’s brand.

8. Ensure all drafted client or community-oriented materials are written at an appropriate reading level and present information in a manner that clearly and concisely communicates relevant information.

Case Handling

1. Maintain client case files in accordance with GLSP and local office practices and policies. This includes ensuring that all required documents are uploaded into LegalServer, appropriate documents are included in paper files (where used), and that relevant documents are appropriately titled and organized.

2. Collect client documents and information as needed in preparation for events and ensure all client materials are correct and complete prior to the event. Where this is not possible, identify what information/materials are missing and communicate instructions to whoever will work with the client at the event.

3. Draft correct and relevant documents as necessary to support clinic work, such as completion of client questionnaires or powers of attorney.

4. Communicate case and clinic/event updates and other necessary information to client in a manner that is understandable, timely, and empowers them to fully participate in the clinic/event. 

5. Close completed cases correctly and in a timely manner throughout the year.

Other

1. Maintain client confidentiality.

2. Assist relevant Regional Operations Manager or other identified individual in writing grant reports related to clinic/event work.

3. Maintain knowledge of grant reporting requirements and regulations pertaining to LSC and other funding sources supporting position.

4. Undergo regular training on technology used to support clinic/event work.

5. Ensure time reports are entered into LegalServer contemporaneously and, where related to a client matter, include a description of the case activities conducted.

6. Direct relevant questions to supervisor, Managing Attorney, or other experts/resources.

7. Address legal questions or client complaints appropriately.

8. Other duties as assigned.

· Must maintain files, workloads, and resources in an organized manner.

· Maintain knowledge of grant restrictions, requirements, and deliverables governing clinic, outreach, and event practices.

· Maintain a strong knowledge of the difference between legal information and legal advice.

· Must have strong communication skills and the ability to present and develop relevant materials.

· Obtain and maintain notary status.

· Must be self-directed, willing to take initiative, and detail-oriented.

· Must be able to work in a team setting and collaboratively achieve team goals.

· Must have a professional appearance and a friendly manner.

· Must be dependable and punctual. 

· Must have and maintain an active driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.

Salary is dependent upon experience and qualifications; GLSP offers excellent fringe benefits. A statement of interest and resume should be submitted to https://www.glsp.org/join-the-team/.

GLSP is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Georgia Legal Services Program not to discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. GLSP values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and people who have experienced poverty or homelessness to apply. GLSP invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how their unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.