Health and Independence Unit – Paralegal

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) is seeking one full-time paralegal for the Health and Independence Unit (H&I) at its North Philadelphia office. Paralegals in the H&I Unit help clients navigate eligibility issues so clients can access public benefits that provide essential income and health coverage including TANF Cash Assistance, SNAP (Food Stamps), Medicaid, Medicare, LIHEAP, SSI and other Social Security benefits.  Paralegals are integral to the team and take on significant responsibility. Paralegals in this unit carry their own caseloads and handle most cases from start to finish under the close supervision of an attorney.

CLS is a non-profit public interest agency providing free civil legal services to low-income Philadelphia residents. As the largest provider of free civil legal services in the Philadelphia area, CLS is both locally and nationally renowned as a premier legal services provider dedicated to ensuring access to justice for all low-income individuals and communities.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The job duties and responsibilities necessary for this position include:

• Regularly conducting intake on schedule with other unit members
• Interviewing clients (homebound clients who cannot come in for intake are interviewed over the phone or during a home visit, including nursing home clients)
• Analyzing and issue spotting intakes and cases, researching relevant rules, and applying them to cases
• Filing administrative appeals and engaging in administrative advocacy under the supervision of an attorney
• Drafting letters and affidavits
• Representing clients (with attorneys) at administrative hearings or informal grievances with Medicaid Managed Care Organizations as needed
• Presenting community education workshops to educate individuals and families about their legal rights
• Participating in individual client and system advocacy and policy issues, as appropriate

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and abilities:

• Strong client interviewing skills
• Patience and persistence
• Strong analytical, writing, and interviewing skills
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to learn a large volume of complex material quickly, initiative, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to interact well in a multi-cultural environment

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Strong writing skills
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Strong computer literacy including proficiency in Microsoft Office

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies
• Experience with a social services agency or a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of the poor, older adults, and/or people with disabilities, and/or experience in legislative or administrative advocacy
• Experience advocating with the PA Department of Human Services or the Social Security Administration

To Apply: CLS will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. But applicants should apply by Monday, May 19, 2025 to receive first round consideration. You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at https://clsphila.org/careers/ OR "Apply Now". You can also reach out to Crystal Stackhouse (Hiring Coordinator) [email protected].

What to Include in your application:
 
Community Legal Services, Inc. welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply, and particularly encourages people who have experienced poverty or housing instability, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply.  CLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences would motivate you to work toward CLS’s mission and would contribute to the vitality and perspective of our organization. 

This is a full-time position covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Community Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) and the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFL-CIO and its affiliate District 1199C.  The current minimum starting salary is $45,970 for entry-level applicants but that salary is subject to change or adjustment if an applicant has relevant years of experience and according to the provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement.  Raises and benefits are also governed by that agreement.

Community Legal Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all diverse backgrounds to apply.  CLS, Inc. does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.  In addition to federal law requirements, CLS complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.