Medical Legal Partnership Legal Assistant / Screener

Medical Legal Partnership Legal Assistant / Screener

Asheville, NC

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a community-based non-profit legal aid agency governed by a local Board of Directors.  Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. The organization currently has offices in Asheville, Brevard, Burnsville, Hendersonville, Highlands-Cashiers, Marshall, Newland, and Rutherfordton.  With over 100 dedicated staff, including over 30 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 300 volunteer attorneys, the program provides free services to nearly 20,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public benefits, domestic violence prevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law. 

PLS is seeking a full-time Legal Assistant/Screener to support our Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) Program and other PLS programs as needed. The purpose of the MLP Program is to improve health and well-being for low-income people by integrating legal advocacy with health care. PLS provides legal assistance to low-income patients to address non-medical barriers to health.

Passion for promoting justice and overcoming barriers facing low-income people, being a creative and zealous staff member and a team-player, and a demonstrated commitment to achieving lasting results for clients and low-income communities are all important. By ensuring that the lowest-income people in Western North Carolina have access to full health services we will increase opportunities for positive health outcomes at the individual and community levels. This position will initially be stationed at the WNCCHS Biltmore Ave location in Asheville with some time spent working remotely. The position is expected to be fully in person in the future and location may be subject to change as organizational needs arise.

Responsibilities 

• Screen clients for eligibility for PLS services, including some in-person screening as needed.
• Screen and process referrals from NCCare360 case management system and support PLS work on the Healthy Opportunities Pilot as needed.
• Screen and set appointments for Western NC Health and Economic Opportunities Program as needed. 
• Prepare and edit legal documents, including Social Security disability applications and medical summaries, request medical records, and draft and send client correspondence.
• Conduct client interviews and provide general administrative support to attorneys.
• Basic computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. 
• Travel within the PLS service area and occasionally to meetings or conferences in other parts of NC.
• Adhere to program priorities and case handling policies, procedures, and standards of practice, as well as the highest professional and ethical standards.
• Work with volunteers and PLS Development Team.
• Availability to work Monday to Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm, with flexibility for occasional evening and weekend shifts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Passion for and commitment to PLS’ mission, values and vision.
• Associates degree required/ bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived experience preferred. 
• Demonstrated skills at socio-economic and cultural sensitivity and the ability to work with someone who is angry, upset, or ill.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams and independently.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Experience working with people in crisis preferred. 
• Experience with public benefit eligibility preferred.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.

Salary/ Benefits

Salary ranges from $34,515 – $52,252 depending on experience.  

Our salary scale is predetermined based on the years of relative professional work experience that qualify for this position to ensure equity in pay.  Pisgah Legal Services is a Living Wage Certified Employer in 18 WNC counties:  Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey.

Employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage the 1st of the month following the start date.  Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) pays 100% of the Employee and 50% of the Dependent Cost for BCBS Medical and Dental coverage.  PLS pays 50% of the Employee Coverage Cost for BCBS Vision coverage.   PLS pays 100% of Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage, Life Insurance Coverage of 5x base salary + an additional $15,000 Life & AD&D Coverage.  401k Retirement Plan after 6 months of employment.  Additional Fringe Benefits includes Paid Parental Leave, 12.5 Company Holidays, 22 Paid Leave Days, Paid Sabbatical Leave for Attorneys, Employee Assistance Program for entire household and a great working environment with work life balance!

To Apply

Submit your online application with resume and cover letter through our Career Center located at https://www.pisgahlegal.org/jobs.

PLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice. 

Pisgah Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with our Human Resources department.

COVID-19 Safety Information:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Pisgah Legal Services has worked tirelessly to promote evidence-based practices across our entire organization. With this in mind, as of January 4th, all Pisgah employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine.   Employees who are unvaccinated or have an approved exemption will be required to provide verified weekly COVID-19 test results.  We currently have COVID-19 safety precautions in place such as working remotely as our business allows, requiring face masks while meeting with clients or co-workers, providing outdoor meeting areas to meet with clients while wearing masks, limiting onsite visits by meeting virtually or by phone with clients.  Pisgah Legal Services also conducts temperature checks at our location upon arrival.