Health & Independence Unit Paralegal

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Inc. (CLS) is seeking a compassionate and highly driven paralegal for the Health and Independence Unit (H&I) at its North Philadelphia office. The H&I Unit represents older adults and people with disabilities to retain their independence, access needed care, and preserve their decision-making power. The Unit also helps low-income people, families, domestic violence survivors, and immigrants to get and keep public benefits that provide essential income and health coverage.  

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.  

The H&I paralegal will work with clients on their eligibility for public benefits, such as TANF Cash Assistance, SNAP (Food Stamps), Medicaid, Medicare, and Subsidized Child Care, and on issues concerning financial eligibility for benefits. They will also work with older adults on access to home and community-based services, long term care, and related issues to maximize independence. Paralegals are critical to the team and take on significant responsibility. Paralegals in this unit carry their own caseloads under the close supervision of an attorney.   

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The job duties and responsibilities necessary for this position include:  

• Conducting intake on a rotating 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) 

• Filing administrative appeals and administrative advocacy under the supervision of an attorney 

• Analyzing cases 

• Drafting letters and affidavits  

• Representing clients (with attorneys) at hearings 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  

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  

To Apply: CLS will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position has been filled. However, candidates are highly encouraged to submit their application by March 17, 2023. You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at: https://clsphila.org/about-cls/available-positions/ OR by clicking on "Apply Now" below. 

What to include in your application: Please include a cover letter, resume, three professional references preferably from current or former supervisors, and one brief writing sample (2-10 pages).  

CLS values a diverse and inclusive work environment where employees feel a sense of belonging and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, people who have experienced poverty or homelessness 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 their unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice. 

Compensation: This is a full-time position covered by the collective bargaining agreement between CLS and the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFL-CIO and its affiliate District 1199C. The current minimum starting salary is $41,990 for entry-level applicants, which increases with relevant years of experience and according to the provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement. CLS asks for a minimum two-year commitment from individuals who accept an offer of employment for a paralegal position. 

Benefits: CLS offers a very generous and competitive benefits package including 100% employer paid medical (including gender affirming care), life, and short/long-term disability benefits, a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution, and a generous leave package, including 13 paid holidays and five personal holidays each year.  

Community Legal Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all diverse backgrounds to apply. CLS 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.