Paralegal I - Tenant Law Center

Full-time position starting at $23 - $25.57/hr (D.O.E) with COMPETITIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account
• Generous PTO, paid sick time, 15 days of paid vacations, 13 days of paid holidays, plus a personal holiday
• CCS/CHS 403(b) Employee Saving Plan
• Employee assistance program

Program Description

The Tenant Law Center (TLC) is a homelessness prevention program that offers free legal assistance to qualifying low income households in the City of Seattle and limited services throughout King County with matters related to eviction, subsidy termination, landlord/tenant issues,

and credit issues related to past tenancies.

Position Description

This position supports three Staff Attorneys and the Directing Attorney. In addition to paralegal support this position will also be responsible for administrative tasks and data entry that is required by our grant funders. Fluency in English and Spanish (Written and Verbal Fluency).

Handling intake sessions for new clients

Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:

• Interview clients in person at TLC office and on the phone.  Gather relevant legal, income and demographic information
• Complete intake forms, statistics cards, case opening memos, client retainer agreements and releases, conduct conflicts checks.  Enter information into database.
• Review cases with supervising attorney to develop action plan

Providing negotiation, legal information, referrals and self-help support to individuals under direction of supervising attorney and in compliance with Rules of Professional Conduct.

Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:

• Develop and maintain knowledge of landlord-tenant, and debtor-creditor law.
• Inform clients of eviction procedures and timelines before an actual eviction might happen
• Provide relevant written materials, pro se forms, follow-up legal information and basic advice as requested by supervising attorney
• Consider how much the client is able to do for themselves.  Consult with supervising attorney whether law is violated by landlord and what governmental agencies should become involved.
• Call/write to opposing parties who are not following proper procedures or with whom TLC wants to negotiate to resolve clients' legal problems and prevent litigation.
• Call government agencies to report problems, get advice, make suggestions or gather additional information at clients' request.
• Provide other relevant social & legal service referrals

Assisting supervising attorney with litigation.

Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:

• Draft legal papers (answers, motions, affidavits, settlements) for review by attorney.
• Interview witnesses and draft declarations, gather and subpoena witnesses and evidence under supervision of staff attorney.
• Attend trials and hearings as a runner for information gathering or communication with LAC office
• Organize client files, file documents, write closing letters and memos.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA or BS with legal Coursework OR completion of a paralegal program of paralegal program                           .                        
• Legal support, paralegal or social services experience
• Must have a paralegal certificate.

Preferred Qualifications          

• Capacity to analyze & Apply legal principles          
• 1 yr legal or social service experience to practical problems
• 1 yr of customer service experience
• Type 45 wpm typing