Legal Assistant

Summary: 

The Legal Assistant supports the Guardianship Director and Staff Attorney(s) by providing direct case management assistance to eligible clients seeking legal services. Day-to-day operations include screening of clients to determine eligibility for services, maintaining regular communication with clients and the court, drafting and e-filing legal documents, completing monthly reports and administrative duties as requested by the director and senior director, and supporting the Senior Legal Director, Guardianship Director, and Staff Attorneys as needed. 

Position Responsibilities:

• *Provide information to clients or potential clients need assistance with legal services pertaining to guardianship, estate    planning, and probate law.
• *As needed, meet with clients for screenings, signings, court hearings, and all other case matters as directed by the Guardianship Services Director and/or staff attorneys.
• *Maintain working relationships with Probate courts and any other partners or agencies. 
• *Regularly communicate with clients, courts, staff, and other partners through phone, face-to-face interaction, e-mail, fax, FaceTime, Zoom, and other forms of video communication. 
• *Draft legal documents, and as needed, any other documents requested by the director(s) and/or staff attorneys
• *e-File appropriate legal documents with courts as needed. 
• *Assist attorney(s) by notarizing legal documents.
• *Maintain records of client payments and expenses including IOLTA
• *Maintain program data regarding clients, their cases, and any other data required by the program as needed.
• *Prepare monthly requests/reports for granting partners.  
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Director and/or Senior Director.

Competencies:

Integrity / Honesty 

Resilience 

Thorough

Results Oriented 

Teamwork  

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Personal
  • Self-starter       
  • Sensitivity to working with families with special needs and/or vulnerability to abuse, particularly elder
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to organize and prioritize work to meet internal and external deadlines
  • Possess sound critical problem-solving and decision-making abilities
  • Servant heart 
• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree; associate’s degree in pre-law. (Must submit proof of diploma, certification, licensure, and/or other related credentials.)
• Experience
  • Minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in the legal profession preferred. 
• License and Credentials
  • Reliable transportation
  • Valid driver license
  • Valid vehicle insurance
  • Must have clean driving record
  • Bilingual Preferred: Fluent in English/Spanish with regard to reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension of both written and spoken language. (Verbal and Writing skills will be assessed.)

Minimum Knowledge and Skills: 

• Experience with computer software (i.e., experience with Microsoft Office and e-filing software preferred). 
• Must be detail oriented, organized, and work well independently and on a team.
• Must have solid comprehension of basic law and requirements for assisting clients in court system.

Travel Requirements:

Travel requirements for the position includes 20% local and 1% overnight (occasional travel for outreach events).

Disclaimer:

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job description or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, etc.) ** This is a Grant funded position and salary is dependent on funding availability. Position can be eliminated at any time because of lack of funding to support this position.**

Catholic Charities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To view this and other employment opportunities please visit our website at www.ccaosa.org. You must apply through our website and complete the application and upload your resume. No phone calls please. If you are chosen for an interview, you will be contacted.