Paralegal A (Telephone Access to Justice)

($36,840 - $50,230)

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) provides free civil legal services to residents in 68 Southwest Texas counties and represents migrant and seasonal farm workers throughout the state and in six other southern states. TRLA also operates public defender programs that serve at least 10 Texas counties, representing low-income and indigent people accused of felonies, misdemeanors, and juvenile crimes. TRLA serves about 23,000 clients each year. However, more than 2.6 million residents of Southwest Texas are considered eligible for TRLA services, a ratio of almost 21,000 potential clients per legal aid lawyer. As a result, thousands of low-income Texans still lack access to civil legal representation.  

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid seeks a Paralegal A to work with the Telephone Access to Justice (TAJ) Team. The primary duties and activities of the Paralegal A may include the following and any other case-related activities and duties consistent with assisting attorneys in the practice of law:  

1. Conduct eligibility and substantive interviews in person and by telephone, which interviews may at times take place outside the regular office setting; 

2. Provide basic information and referrals to applicants, including those ineligibles for services; 

3. Interview clients and witnesses; 

4. Conduct follow-up of assigned cases, including investigating facts and researching law;

5. Serve process and subpoenas; 

6. Prepare legal documents; 

7. Oversee legal clinics; 

8. Notarize legal documents; 

9. Attend and participate in community group meetings and educational forums to conduct intake and make community legal education presentations; 

10. Prepare legal educational materials; 

11. Translate; 

12. Maintain accurate and complete client files and administrative records, including data entry into client database and other requirements; 

13. Prepare administrative reports required by TRLA; 

14. Any other duties required by the branch or team manager.