Paralegal

Paralegal 

Lawyers Preventing & Ending Homelessness Project 

(Full-Time, Non-Exempt Position) 

Inner City Law Center (ICLC) is a nonprofit law firm in the Skid Row neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles. We are looking for extraordinary people to help us end homelessness in Los Angeles. Founded on the fundamental principle that every person should always be treated with dignity and respect, ICLC fights for justice for low-income tenants, working-poor families, people experiencing homelessness, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and homeless veterans. 

Position Description: ICLC seeks a talented full-time Paralegal for our Lawyers Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project. The project is focused on providing clients who are homeless or at risk for homelessness with a broad range of legal assistance that removes barriers to getting and staying housed. A core component of this work is helping clients access critical public benefits that support housing stability and basic survival. This includes assistance with programs such as SSI, SSDI, CalWORKs, CalFresh, General Relief, Medi-Cal, CAPI, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), as well as help navigating overpayments, terminations, and denials. 

The team’s client community is made up of highly vulnerable individuals including people living with physical and mental disabilities, and people living with HIV. The Paralegal will work closely with clients and our partner organizations and will bring a whatever-it-takes approach to ending and preventing homelessness. Strategies include maximizing income through government benefits and increased employability; consumer law; limited immigration assistance; eviction defense; record expungement; citation defense; credit improvement; debt reduction; and preserving and obtaining housing subsidies. The strategies used to prevent and end homelessness is the first time that comprehensive legal services will be fully integrated into the Coordinated Entry System. 

Responsibilities: The Paralegal will work under the supervision of attorneys and will play a key role in advocating for our clients. Essential duties and responsibilities may include: assisting clients with applications, appeals, and/or hearings for public benefits programs such as SSI, SSDI, CalWORKs, CalFresh, General Relief, Medi-Cal, and IHSS; managing deadlines and discovery for unlawful detainer cases; drafting, reviewing, editing, and preparing pleadings in a variety of cases; preparing briefs, correspondence, and discovery requests and responses; completing legal forms; maintaining case files and documents; filing documents with courts and administrative agencies; screening and interviewing clients; preparing letters to clients; reviewing documents to identify and assess various legal issues; performing legal research; and liaising with benefits caseworkers and community partners. 

The Paralegal will also assist with administrative and clerical duties such as communicating with clients, calendaring, copying and filing, and opening digital case files. Other duties may be assigned as needed to support the team’s holistic legal services model. 

• Assisting clients with applications, appeals, and hearings for public benefits programs, including but not limited to SSI, SSDI, CalWORKs, CalFresh, General Relief, Medi-Cal, CAPI, and IHSS.
• Communicating with county and state benefits agencies on behalf of clients, tracking deadlines, and supporting resolution of terminations, denials, and overpayments.
• Interviewing clients and potential clients, conducting intakes, and supporting assessment of potential representation.
• Being the point of contact for clients; collecting and reviewing evidence and other documents, including visiting clients in the field, and assisting clients with attendance at appointments throughout LA County, as needed.
• Drafting correspondence, pleadings, motions, declarations, applications, and discovery requests and responses.
• Preparing trial, mediation, arbitration, and hearing briefs, exhibits, and other documents.
• Attending trials and hearings.
• Assisting with administrative and clerical duties, including electronic filing. 
• Maintaining electronic case files and documents and proper documentation in our case management system.
• Providing language interpretation and translation to support legal representation.
• Completing grant-related forms and processes as required by funders. 
• Working closely with other paralegals to advise on and implement team procedures and systems.
• Providing client education, information, and referrals.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Hiring Criteria: Commitment to ICLC’s mission and values. Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills. Ability to interact with a wide range of clients utilizing client-centered advocacy and trauma-informed frameworks. Demonstrate an understanding of the legal barriers confronting people experiencing homelessness and appreciation for the vital role social workers and other non-lawyers play in addressing their needs. Ability to assume responsibility quickly and work independently and as part of a team. Ability to use good judgment, multitask, and meet deadlines. Skilled at using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with using databases and data entry. Access to reliable transportation. Certification as a Paralegal or a Bachelor’s degree is required.  

Compensation: Hourly compensation ranges from $24.54 - $37.45 and is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits. 

How to Apply: Cover letters and resumes are reviewed upon receipt and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, please upload your resume and a cover letter detailing interest in the position directly at https://innercitylaw.org/apply/.