Paralegal with the Women's Legal Centre in Cape Town, South Africa

About the Women's Legal Centre
The Women’s Legal Centre is an independently funded law centre, which conducts public interest and constitutional gender litigation WLC in partnership with the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) and Sisonke (Sex Workers Movement). The partnership collaborates jointly on a project titled, “every sex worker a human rights defender project”. The project is aimed at educating sex workers on their legal rights and remedies, advocacy for the decriminalisation of sex work, strategic impact litigation, legal advice and legal representation. The position will be based in Cape Town.

Paralegal Positions

The paralegal will provide legal information and support to sex workers about issues concerning their human rights and legal issues that affect sex workers in terms of their work but also their lives e.g. police abuse, divorce, and custody. Paralegals will conduct outreach, give legal advice, train sex workers, attend court, meeting and workshops. 

Is this position for you

• Are you interested in human rights?
• Are you a current or former sex worker?
• Do you want to support fellow sex workers?
• Do you speak at least 2 languages spoken in the Province?
• Are you able to read and write?
• Able to work flexible hours?

Closing date:  08 August 2015

To apply please send a cover letter and comprehensive CV (no more than 3 pages) with three references, certified copies of all qualifications and identity document to:

Aretha Louw                          OR                    Fax to: 021-424 5206

Women’s Legal Centre                                   Email:  recruitment@wlce.co.za

P O Box 5356

CAPE TOWN

8000

Paralegal, Huntingdon House, Huntingdon, PA

Paralegal: Civil Legal Representation Project

Posted on: October 6, 2014
Posted by: Huntingdon House

Huntingdon House, a domestic violence service program located in the beautiful rural central Pennsylvania town of Huntingdon, announces the following employment opportunity. Employment to begin as soon as possible after October 1, 2014. We are offering an exciting opportunity to the right Paralegal who is equipped to create a civil legal representation office from the ground up! Become a leader in the Court of Huntingdon County as an advocate for domestic violence survivors, work with rural survivors to create safer access to legal services in remote or isolated rural population centers, and provide education and advocacy about providing justice for survivors of domestic violence. All within a best practices model of survivor centered work.

The Paralegal will work closely with the Counseling/Advocacy staff of Huntingdon House to strengthen our continuum of services to create safer options and better avenues to justice for survivors who are fleeing domestic violence.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct client interviews and maintain general contact with clients of the Huntingdon County Civil Legal Representation Project, who are victims of domestic violence, including conducting interviews and general contact at rural meeting sites. 
• Conduct web-based case law, statutory and regulatory research. 
• Maintain court schedule and calendar. 
• Maintain legal project records and filing system. 
• Draft and edit legal documents, correspondence and pleadings under the supervision of The Project Director. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least one year of legal assistant experience in a litigation and family law practice, or a public interest law firm or similar setting is preferred. 
• Knowledge of unique issues facing rural victims of domestic violence is preferred. 
• Must possess excellent writing, proofreading, professional telephone skills and a willingness to develop and learn new skills. 
• Excellent and demonstrated word processing required, knowledge of Excel spreadsheet, West Law and case management software is desirable.

Position Requires a STRONG COMMITMENT to

• The provision of Domestic Violence services with a client empowerment and feminist perspective
• The struggle against ageism, classism, racism, ableism, homophobia, and heterosexism
• Support and involvement of all racial, social, ethnic, religious, cultural, and economic groups

HOW TO APPLY

Those interested in this position may apply by submitting a letter of interest, a current resume/curriculum vitae, and a complete list of three or more personal and professional references to:

Jean Riddle Collins, Executive Director

Jcollins@huntingdonhouse.net

PO Box 217

Huntingdon, PA 16652

814-643-2801 office phone

814-643-2419 fax

Paralegal, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, New York, NY

Paralegal

Posted on: May 30, 2013
Posted by: Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation

AGENCY BACKGROUND

Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) is a community-based, not-for-profit organization founded in 1979 to serve the Washington Heights and Inwood communities. NMIC's client-centered programs minimize evictions; maximize improvements to the housing stock; provide education and training to increase employment opportunities; support families with child care, case management and domestic violence intervention services; and, give residents a greater voice in the decisions that affect their lives. All NMIC services are bilingual in English and Spanish. NMIC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

SUMMARY

NMIC's Legal Services Program provides free civil legal services to the residents of Washington Heights/Inwood and the surrounding communities of upper Manhattan. Services are provided on a walk-in basis and are central to helping families and individuals maintain housing and economic security. Historically, we have taken on law suits in the areas of childhood protection from lead paint poisoning; domestic violence, fair and equal access to benefits such as public assistance, food stamps and disability payments, enforcement of housing maintenance standards; access to emergency benefits upon application at city job centers; and the safeguarding of constitutional rights of tenants in housing court.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Paralegals at NMIC currently provide assistance to:

1) Tenants and tenant associations to secure stable and safe housing accommodations and avoid eviction;
2) Clients in need of public assistance benefits and navigating the benefits system;
3) Local residents facing consumer debt issues, and
4) Victims of domestic violence in both immigration and family law issues.

Duties include responsibility for providing legal assistance to clients and ensuring client records, develop and maintain expertise in a substantive area of specialty as well as assist the attorney staff in screening and intake

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants who can provide training, support staff, update and maintain NMIC's legal resources database, monitor any applicable listservs, and create and maintain materials for pro se litigants are encouraged to apply. Applicants should possess experience with housing court procedures and rent regulation protections or should have relevant experience in landlord-tenant, housing, benefits and/or consumer debt issues. Candidates should possess at a minimum an AA/AS, BA/BS, or Paralegal Certificate and 2(+) years experience providing direct legal services or similar background. Skilled in use of MS Excel and Word preferred. Bilingual English/Spanish both verbal and written HIGHLY PREFERRED.

BENEFITS

All full-time positions at Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation are competitive in salary and complemented with 20 days of paid vacation, 14 paid holidays, health, life and dental insurance, long term disability, employee assistance program, employer contribution 401(k) and other generous time-off benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, send resume/cover (with PARALEGAL in the subject line) to NMIC, Human Resources Director, 76 Wadsworth Avenue, NY, NY 10033 or employment@nmic.org or fax to (212) 928-4180. NMIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NMIC IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively encourages candidates of diverse backgrounds (men and women) to apply for employment. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements in terms of qualifications. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered unless specifically stated otherwise.

Community Worker, California Rural Legal Assistance, Modesto, CA

Community Worker

Posted on: May 10, 2013
Application deadline: July 10, 2013
Posted by: California Rural Legal Assistance

DESCRIPTION

Workers under the supervision of an attorney will engage in all or some of the following activities.
(a) Conducting Investigations. Gathering information though field inquiry and other research related to actual or potential cases and litigation.
(b) Lay Advocacy. (Paralegal Activity) representing client's interests with the Welfare department, other government agencies and other forums appropriate to a no-lawyer and engage in lay advocacy to the extent permissible under the law and the code of professional ethics; perform ministerial duties in connection with lawsuits such as filing and the service of process; and interpreting for non-English speaking clients in interview situations and before formal and informal tribunals.
(c) Community Education and Community Services. Maintaining CRLA liaison with community organizations and minority groups, to ensure that CRLA resources address client community needs and training the poor in lay advocacy and self-help efforts to overcome the effects of poverty, as done by welfare rights organizations, tenants rights, consumer protection agencies, co-ops and similar groups; and educating clients regarding legal rights.
(d) Client Intake. Perform initial screening for client eligibility; interview clients and prepare simple documents from standard forms; assist In Pro-Per clients in identifying useful information for presentation of their cases; provide appropriate advocacy and make referrals where appropriate.
(e) Perform other tasks assigned by his/her Directing Attorney that do not conflict with other provisions of this contract.
(f) Out of Office Assignments. Community Workers can be assigned to work in a region covered by a CRLA office other than their own upon mutual agreement of the LSWRC Member, their Directing Attorney, and the Directing Attorney of the other office involved.
(g) The duties of LSWRC Members may require their presence from time to time outside the office of their normal assignment.
(h) Conflicting Assignments. A Community Worker who is given conflicting assignments has both the right and obligation to discuss the matter with those giving the assignments as well as with his/her Directing Attorney for the purpose of resolving the conflict.

1. Qualification. Applicant for a position of a CRLA Community Worker must have the ability to perform all of the above duties; consistent with the needs of the office.

SALARY: $24,232 - $47,000 depending upon experience credits calculated according to the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement between LSWRC and CRLA.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to the CRLA Human Resources Department at hr@crla.org. E-mail attachments in Word only, or copy and paste cover letter and resume into body of e-mail. Include "Community Worker – Modesto" in subject line of e-mail.

WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
CRLA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.