Administrative Assistant or Paralegal - Consumer Rights & Economic Justice Project

ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel operates eight legal projects: Child Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Veterans’ Advancement, Gender Justice, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law. 

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of approximately 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

ABOUT CONSUMER RIGHTS & ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROJECT

Public Counsel’s Consumer Rights & Economic Justice (“CREJ”) Project is one of the oldest projects within Public Counsel. Our mission is to advance racial and economic justice by representing and advocating for individuals who are low-income and their families to improve their financial futures, safeguard intergenerational wealth, address systemic inequalities, and oppose the institutions and companies that take advantage of the communities we serve.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the new Administrative Assistant or Paralegal will:

• Conduct client intake interviews and gather relevant documents and information under the supervision of an attorney.
• Maintain client case files.
• Provide support to Staff Attorneys and Supervising Attorney.
• Coordinate grant reporting and complete data entry and outcome tracking for case work as directed by the Supervising Attorney. 
• Assist with the development of informational materials.
• Work closely with clients, staff, and volunteer attorneys on student loan and other consumer cases.
• Perform various clerical duties such as record-keeping, document copying, e-filing, etc.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and for a Paralegal either: paralegal certificate/degree in paralegal studies from an ABA-approved institution OR at least 1 year of experience in legal services or a law office.
• Comfort with trauma-informed advocacy: empathy, responsive listening, restraint from judgment, and demonstration of authentic care and concern.
• Ability to work well as part of a team, but also be able to work independently.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. 
• Detail-oriented and superior organizational skills. 
• Familiarity with Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat and PowerPoint.
• Ability to commute throughout Los Angeles County.
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish.

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/non-exempt 
• Salary range/Hourly rate: $54,000-$60,792.75   ($27.69 - $31.18 per hour) for Administrative Assistant; $55,000-$62,529.69 ($28.21 - $32.07 per hour) for Paralegal
• Bargaining
• Probationary period: 6 months (9 months for a Paralegal)
• Fixed-duration position funded until May 29, 2026. This position is created with designated funds through May 29, 2026. Continued employment past this date is contingent on additional funding for the position. 

Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage 
• Dental and vision coverage 
• Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans

Generous paid time off (per year):

• 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
• 2 personal observance days 
• 11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
• Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)

Additional benefits:

• 37.5 hour work week for all full-time employees 
• 403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a  discretionary employer contribution 
• Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement 
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• Up to 6 months of parental leave 
• Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Professional development support and opportunities
• Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please consider discussing such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work has been permitted during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.