Public Benefits Paralegal

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 

Practice Group: Public Benefits

Organization Information

Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a paralegal for our Public Benefits practice group. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State. 

Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates to ensure fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced high levels of oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.

Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island offer staff an exciting, dynamic, inclusive working environment with a solid commitment to work/life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development. 

Position Summary 

The Public Benefits Paralegal is part of and supports a team of attorneys in the Public Benefits practice group. This position will focus on Health Law but will also assist with other Public Benefits work as needed. The paralegal will engage in intake and screening of potential clients, factual investigation, client communication, file management, case data entry, monitoring of opposing party compliance with settlements, support for legislative and policy advocacy, litigation support, and other tasks as assigned. The Public Benefits Paralegal is supervised by a Supervising Staff Attorney or another attorney within the practice group. 

Salary

The referenced pay range represents the estimated minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries or hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range and will be determined by considering factors, including but not limited to, education, experience, qualifications, individual expertise, market data, and internal equity considerations.

The salary range for a paralegal in this position is $40,000 to $54,080.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

· Travel to and work in the Rochester Telesca Center office is required to meet client and organizational needs.

o This position is eligible for a hybrid work request under the organizational policy.

· Answer telephone and email requests for assistance on health law matters as required by our contract with the Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP) and other needs that may arise. 

· Screen applicants for assistance in health and benefits law matters, conduct intake interviews, and accurately enter applicants’ information into the Empire Justice Center Legal Server case management system, and any other required case management system. 

· Under the supervision of an attorney, assist eligible applicants. 

· Engage in administrative duties, including but not limited to taking and returning phone calls, reviewing and answering correspondence, filing, copying, and scanning. 

· Engage in investigations, including gathering documents from clients, requesting records, interviewing clients and potential witnesses, and gathering and compiling data. 

· Coordinate client service and contacts, including scheduling appointments with attorneys. 

· Case management (e.g., entering and tracking client information into various databases, opening and closing files, organizing client and case information for practice group review, coordinating follow-up services for clients, including using translation services and referrals).

· Keep accurate case and time records in the case management system.

· Send case updates to team attorneys, provide referrals, and engage in other communication about clients and cases, as needed.

· Provide legal information to clients and others under the supervision of an attorney.  

· Under the supervision of the Director of Policy and Communications, advocate for consumer access to health and other benefits and services. 

· Assist attorneys in the Public Benefits Practice Group in litigation matters, as needed.

· Respond to requests for technical assistance on health insurance-related matters. 

· Maintain confidentiality of client information and files, per HIPAA and other laws. 

· Develop a thorough understanding of the various public health insurance programs available to low-income New Yorkers.

· Regularly participate in coalition calls and meetings with other health advocates.

· Run selected database reports.

· Provide support to practice group attorneys handling fair hearings, trials, and other litigation.

· Attend training, presentations, and events as needed.

· Regularly participate in calls and meetings with other practice group staff.

· In collaboration with other staff, conduct community outreach on specified Medicare and EPIC programs to Medicare beneficiaries, dual eligibility individuals, and participants of EPIC.

· Help develop and distribute organizational and community education materials.

· Assist with developing and providing community presentations.

· Must demonstrate a high level of comfort and commitment to working with people from marginalized communities.

· Work closely with your assigned supervisor and participate in regular supervision meetings,  

including work plan development, and grant deliverable management.

· Please note that all positions will supervise other practice group members if needed.

· Due to limited resources, all staff are expected to perform administrative and other support-related duties to serve our clients and fulfill our mission as a non-profit legal services organization.

· Other duties as assigned by your supervisor and/or to meet the organization’s needs. 

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) 

· Minimum of 5 years of paralegal experience or relevant Medicaid, Medicare, or other public health insurance-related experience. 

· Demonstrated excellence in utilizing the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint), with the ability to learn and adapt to other applications quickly. 

· Must demonstrate strong analytical and communication skills, including proficiency in technology that facilitates the delivery of communication, documents, and other materials. 

· Must demonstrate knowledge and ability to e-file legal documents (e.g. pleadings, motions, etc.) in state and federal court. 

· Ability to communicate effectively in written language. 

· Practice effective time management and demonstrate an ability to meet deadlines. 

· Demonstrated case management experience. 

· Strong presentation and public communication skills. 

· Ability to schedule appointments and manage calendars. 

· Administrative skills, including database and file management.

· Must demonstrate excellence in technology systems, facilitating the creation and delivery of communication, documents, and record-keeping, among other tasks. 

· Skilled in problem management. 

· Strong organizational skills and adept at managing multiple priorities. 

· Strong document drafting skills. 

· Ability to work in the office and the community, as determined by the supervisor. 

· Experience in and commitment to working with marginalized communities.

· Previous experience in non-profit or legal services is preferred. 

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team.