Volunteer Paralegal

The CLS Landlord-Tenant Unit is seeking a temporary volunteer paralegal for 15-20 hours or more a week to assist in handling the large number of tenants who come in and call our office with landlord-tenant problems, often including a threat of eviction or being illegally locked out of their home. The paralegal would interview tenants who come in during our intake hours and review the case with their supervising attorney. The paralegal would work on the case, talk to the opposing side and prepare letters and necessary court papers in conjunction with their supervising attorney The paralegal would also return calls from tenants who called the Tenant Hotline. The paralegal would also do a final review of case files after they are closed to insure necessary documents are in the file.

The CLS Energy Unit needs a temporary volunteer paralegal for 15-20 hours or more a week to handle the growing numbers of cases of low-income utility customers seeking legal assistance with electric, gas and water utility matters. The paralegal would help customers investigate their utility account histories, dispute denials of enrollment into utility discount programs, access utility grant programs, assert medical exceptions to service termination, negotiate payment agreements, and assess options for preventing utility shut off or obtaining reconnection of utility service. The paralegal may also assist Energy Unit attorneys in ongoing litigation cases and policy advocacy work at the city and state levels.

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, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.