POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Geneva office of LawNY is looking for a Disability Advocacy Program (DAP)/ Elder Law Paralegal to join our team! The DAP/Elder Law Paralegal will provide direct services to clients with low income who are facing disability and elder issues in Livingston, Ontario, Yates, Wayne and Seneca Counties through LawNY®’s DAP/Elder Law Unit with support from federal and state grants.

Staff Paralegals at LawNY® provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients and the ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting communities with low-income intersect with social and economic justice. 

QUALIFICATIONS These are the basic requirements for the position.

• Bachelor's degree, Associate’s degree, and/or relevant work experience, is required.
• Organized and have excellent interpersonal and writing skills. 
• Demonstrated commitment to helping poor and disadvantaged people overcome institutional barriers to legal access.

Organization Information:

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to clients with low-income in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Geneseo and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester. 

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

The starting salary for a DAP/Elder Law Paralegal at LawNY with no experience is $38,670 and the salary for a DAP/Elder Law Paralegal with thirty years of experience is $69,620.  Salary will be based on experience. LawNY is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program(PSLF).

LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including:

• 94% Employer paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer paid in-network deductible 
• 100% Employer paid Dental Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Enhanced Short-term Disability
• 100% Employer paid Long-term Disability
• Vision Insurance
• 20 Paid Vacation days per year
• 12 Sick days per year
• 5 Personal days per year
• 13.5 Holidays plus 2 floating Holidays per year
• 35-Hour Work Week
• Hybrid Work Schedule (new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week. After 6 months, this increases to 5 days per week with Manager approval, as workload permits) The successful candidate will be required to be in person for professional obligations and must be able to commute into the office.

RESPONSIBILITIES These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.

The Paralegal will provide support to clients and attorneys, primarily in DAP/Elder Law matters, to include:

• Coordinate and conduct new client intake interviews
• Maintain client files, both physically and electronically, within LawNY’s case management system
• Advocate with community and governmental agencies regarding Disability Advocacy and Elder Law issues.
• Facilitate communication among parties, e.g., client, attorney, agency advocate
• Draft correspondence and documents
• Develop evidence for disability hearings, including obtaining medical records and medical opinions 
• Representation of clients in informal conferences with the Social Security administration field offices, where appropriate
• Assist Elder Law Unit attorneys with drafting of basic estate planning documents such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Proxies, as permitted by law and ethical considerations
• Assist Elder Law attorneys with client meetings including client home visits throughout the Geneva office’s five-county service area
• Assist attorneys with preparation of cases, as permitted by law and ethical considerations
• Ensure compliance with agency and funder policies
• Outreach activities

ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities. 

• Experience working with individuals and communities facing barriers to accessing resources, opportunities, services or justice.
• The ideal candidate will be comfortable working closely with senior clients, demonstrating patience, empathy, and professionalism, while supporting attorneys in delivering high-quality legal services.
• Applies understanding of bias and systemic inequities related to socio-economic status, race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, genetic information, national origin, familial status, and language, to improve client access, engagement and outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to trauma-informed and culturally responsive services.
• True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
• Excellent use of Google Drive/GSuite, Word, and Excel; database programs 

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three professional references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform found here:https://lawny.bamboohr.com/careers/300 .When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe unpaid volunteer/internships as such. The application for this position is open until filled. 

To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to supporting our diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think that your background and experience has prepared you to contribute to our mission, vision and values at LawNY®.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations to support you in your role - whether for your interview, onboarding, or your day-to-day work, please let us know by sending an email to:[email protected].  Any information shared will remain confidential and only be used to ensure the appropriate support is in place before your first day. As part of your employment, LawNY will provide the necessary hardware to support your role.

Questions? Contact Michelle Grillone at [email protected]

LawNY is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. If you meet the basic qualifications of the role, we encourage you to apply! 

This position is considered Exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.