Bilingual (Spanish) Receptionist

CLS seeks a Bilingual (Spanish-language) Receptionist/Clerk to join its front desk team in our North Philadelphia Law Office (NPLC). This position reports directly to the NPLC Office Manager and is an integral part of the administrative support team at CLS. The Bilingual Receptionist interacts with a diverse client community in a diverse neighborhood of Philadelphia. The ability to communicate effectively and with a welcoming attitude with communities of color in a neighborhood office setting is a requirement of this position. 

Community Legal Services, Inc. of Philadelphia (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. CLS has ten legal units covering a wide range of civil legal services. 

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

The job duties and responsibilities necessary for this position include: 

• Identifying budding and current, potential or actual volatile situations with clients and or visitors and responding by first attempting to deescalate the situation and then following internal safety protocols if necessary. 

• Providing information to callers seeking CLS’s services with the highest level of customer service engagement. 

• Greeting clients in a friendly and respectful manner and gathering necessary information to determine eligibility for CLS’s services. 

• Opening client files in CLS’s case management system and completing conflict checks. 

• On occasion, making legal and non-legal referrals to appropriate agencies or organizations, including other public interest law firms, government agencies, and associations. 

• Responding to clients and performing other client contact as requested. 

• Maintaining daily appointment log/ Outlook Calendar. 

• Providing relief to other front desk staff as requested by the Office Manager and or Managing Attorney and serving as the backup for other support staff. 

• Performing initial screening of client eligibility for CLS services. 

• Accessing client database to identify case-handlers and inputting notes where appropriate. 

• Closing and maintaining files in accordance with standard office procedure for file maintenance and storage and retrieves closed files at case-handlers’ request. 

• Operating and maintaining office machinery necessary to complete assignments, including fax, photocopier, and scanner. 

• Reviewing and translating simple documents to and from English and Spanish. 

• Performing routine interpretation for CLS staff. 

• Performing clerical duties such as copying documents; sorting, distributing, and delivering mail; promptly, professionally, and accurately answering and routing calls. 

• Performing minor maintenance of office equipment (i.e. change typewriter ribbons, refill paper or toner in photocopiers, change film/toner in facsimile machines), and notifying Office Manager to place service calls for repairs as necessary. 

• Maintaining work area, lobby, conference room and kitchen’s physical appearance. 

• Performing additional duties as directed. 

• Stamping and preparing mail and taking to the U.S. Post Office for mailing 

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and abilities:  

• Communicate effectively and respectfully with a welcoming demeanor. 

• Deal with people in a non-judgmental, empathetic, patient, and understanding manner which shows sensitivity, tact and professionalism. 

• Exercise superior judgment and decisiveness. 

• Provide staff with a comprehensive level of clerical support to ensure that work is produced in an accurate and professional manner. 

• Act as a positive interactive liaison between the case-handlers, their clients, and other professionals. 

• Ensure that there is a flexible flow of support around the daily activities faced by CLS staff. 

• Provide mentoring assistance to new staff members as appropriate and necessary to ensure consistent staff development. 

• Maintain an excellent attendance record and be punctual for the start of the business day and upon returning from lunch and breaks. 

• Use automated software applications including Microsoft Office products. 

• Be efficient, patient and thoughtful in an environment that is subject to many interruptions. 

• Be dependable, show initiative and concern for the interests of clients. 

• Work cooperatively with other staff in a non-judgmental, respectful, and professional manner. 

• Ability to multitask. 

• Demonstrated ability to thrive under pressure. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• High School Diploma or a GED is a minimum requirement. 

• Intermediate to advanced fluency in oral and written Spanish language skills is required. This position would provide oral interpretation to staff as needed. The successful candidate will satisfactorily pass a language skills assessment test during the hiring process. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in an office setting having interaction with the public, and having provided clerical/administrative support, or equivalent experience is preferred. 

To Apply: CLS will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.  You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at https://clsphila.org/careers/  OR submit your application below by clicking "Apply Now" below.  

What to include in your application: Please include a cover letter, resume, and three professional references (past or current supervisors preferred) identifying your relationship. If selected for an interview, applicants will be asked to complete a writing prompt.  

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 $41,830 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. 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, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.