Paralegal (Medical Legal Partnership)
Community Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) a nationally recognized legal services program dedicated to fighting poverty, challenging systems that perpetuate injustice, and changing lives though cutting-edge advocacy and exceptional legal representation. CLS helps people when they face the threat of losing their homes, incomes, health care, and even their families. CLS attorneys and other staff provide a full range of legal services, from individual representation to administrative advocacy to class action litigation, as well as community education and social work. CLS is a private, non-profit law firm dedicated to providing excellent, free legal services to low-income Philadelphians since 1966.
Community Legal Services (CLS) is seeking a paralegal to work at CLS’s Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP), located at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP’s) Karabots Pediatric Care Center, at 4865 Market Street in West Philadelphia.
In April 2018, CLS launched its second of four MLPs at Karabots. Karabots is the largest pediatric primary care center in the nation, serving more than 30,000 patients each year, the vast majority of whom are low income. CLS partners with Karabots social workers, physicians, and other staff to address the legal issues of patient families, with particularly focus on health-harming habitability issues like mold, lead, pests.
The MLP paralegal will work with closely with the lead MLP attorney at Karabots to provide legal advice and representation. The paralegal will be based at CLS’s 1424 Chestnut Street office and will work at Karabots at least two days per week, and possibly up to three days if necessary.
The paralegal will join a dynamic team of MLP attorneys and paralegals who work on-site across the City of Philadelphia at CLS’s four MLPs. While the paralegal will provide brief advice, referrals, and other representation on a broad range of legal issues, the paralegal will be formally co-located in its Housing Unit, focusing on housing habitability issues.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
While the duties of the MLP paralegal will vary based on the needs of CLS’s MLPs and the Housing Unit, the position will involve:
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Working closely with clinical and social work staff at Karabots to build trusting, collaborative, and respectful relationships
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Partnering with the MLP attorney to adjust and maintain systems for screening and identifying patients with legal issues
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Conducting in-person intake interviews at Karabots at least two days per week, and up to three days per week as needed, for patient families who are identified as having legal issues
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Responding to a high volume of legal referrals via telephone, and tracking referral outcomes consistently in CLS’s case management system
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Providing legal advice, referrals, and representation to patient families in the area of housing habitability law, as well as other legal areas as needed, under the close supervision of the MLP attorney
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Assisting the MLP attorney in identifying the training needs of clinical and social work staff at Karabots and throughout the CHOP primary care network, and providing the training when appropriate
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Assisting the MLP attorney in identifying and executing new ways to address unmet legal need at Karabots, including through pop-up legal clinics, pro bono partnerships, and self-help materials
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Collecting case outcome data and other data that demonstrates the success of the MLP and synthesizing or analyzing the data when needed
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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High school diploma or GED
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Demonstrated history of exceptional organizational skills
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Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative
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Demonstrated reliability
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Ability to learn and retain a large volume of complex material
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Strong writing and other communication skills
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Strong interpersonal skills
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Ability to interact well in multicultural environments
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Computer literacy, including proficiency in using Microsoft Office; and
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Willingness and flexibility to travel within the City of Philadelphia.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
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Bachelor’s degree in a related field or Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies;
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Experience working at a social services agency, at a nonprofit advocacy organization, or in a health care setting; and
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Client interviewing skills.
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 https://clsphiladelphia.applytojob.com/apply/zdJIFzCveg/Medical-Legal-Partnership-Paralegal
Include in your application: Please include a cover letter, resume, three professional references from current or former supervisors, and one brief writing sample (10 pages or less). CLS values a diverse work environment 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. For this job, the perspective of people with criminal records is especially valuable. CLS 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.
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. CLS asks for a minimum two-year commitment from individuals who accept an offer of employment for a paralegal position. The current minimum starting salary is $41,990 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.
CLS offers a very generous and competitive benefits package including 100% employer paid medical, life, and short/long-term disability benefits, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, and generous leave package.
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.