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ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:
Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program, with thirteen offices providing civil legal assistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas, including family law, public benefits, eviction defense, consumer protection, services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking, and many others.
CLS has strengthened lives, assisted families, and supported communities–one person at a time for over 90 years. We are committed to providing high-quality, free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive, transformational change in the lives of those we serve.
POSITION:
The Health & Elder Unit (HELU) seeks a part-time paralegal to work in-person in its Denver office to support the attorneys handling public benefits cases for low-income individuals and seniors. HELU handles cases involving both state and federal administered benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, Old Age Pension, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, Aid to Needy Disabled, Social Security Title II (including retirement, disability, survivor, and family benefits), Supplemental Security Income, and Unemployment. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to use their legal and administrative skills to promote economic security and well-being for low-income individuals and seniors by helping them obtain or retain vital benefits that they are eligible for, understand complex program requirements, and manage overpayments.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Job responsibilities include:
- extensive collaboration with attorneys in the unit; document preparation
- letter writing
- legal research
- gathering relevant facts, documents, and identifying legal issues
- reviewing, analyzing, and summarizing client and agency documents
- interviewing clients, witnesses and other third parties
- developing and updating informational community education material for the unit
- increasing outreach; assisting in timely closing of cases; and other paralegal responsibilities.
- be able to meet with clients in their homes, travel to in-person appointments with the Social Security Administration and other entities and attend community outreach events representing CLS.
QUALIFICATIONS:
All candidates should:
- demonstrate sensitivity to the legal needs of low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities and the elderly
- have strong communication skills which are needed for client interaction and outreach
- and demonstrate patience, empathy, sound judgment, and common sense in all client communications
- have excellent organizational and time management skills
- excellent research and writing skills
- ability to independently manage multiple tasks and deadlines
- have strong attention to detail
- be flexible and adaptable
- be able to reprioritize as needs shift
A high school diploma or GED is for this position, however a paralegal certificate or bachelor’s degree is preferred. Candidates must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and be comfortable with technology and various software. Preference for candidates who speak Spanish or other language.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please use the “Apply for This Job” link for this job opening on our careers page and submit a cover letter and resume. We are accepting applications through Monday, November 4, but we encourage applications sooner as we are reviewing applications on a rolling basis. We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this position or any other positions at Colorado Legal Services, contact Karen Masciulli Vilner, Director of People and Culture, at kvilner@colegalserv.org. Please no solicitations from recruitment firms.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
We offer a generous plan that includes 100% employer paid premiums for employee health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, as well as partial employer paid premiums for spouses/dependents, based on a sliding scale. We also offer Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). CLS contributes $200/month to each employee's 403(b) retirement account and matches 100% of employee contributions up to 3% of employee salary; vesting occurs gradually with full vesting after 3 years of employment. Additionally, CLS offers generous paid time-off and 13 paid holidays per year. CLS non-exempt and non-grant staff are members of the United Legal Services Workers of Colorado.
CLS values its employees’ commitment to working hard for the population it serves and recognizes the importance of work/life balance. We promote and foster a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and psychologically safe work environment, striving to be a “Best Place to Work” in Colorado.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSIITY AND BELONGING:
CLS embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and retaining a workforce that respects and empowers each individual and represents a variety of diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply for this position.
Salary- $30,525 - $41,015
