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Open Door Legal

Housing ParalegalLegal Assistant Bilingual Spanishspeaking

Open Door Legal, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199


Housing Paralegal/Legal Assistant

(Bilingual Spanish-speaking)

Full-time, Exempt

Hybrid, (at least three days in office)

About Us:

At Open Door Legal (ODL), we're pioneering the country's first system of universal access to civil legal representation to dramatically reduce poverty and prove that the law really can belong to all of us. We are currently based in San Francisco.

Overview of Position:

We are hiring a Bilingual Spanish-speaking Housing Paralegal/Legal Assistant to provide critical support to our housing team. The Housing Paralegal/Legal Assistant will be the main point of contact for helping our Spanish-speaking clients navigate their legal journey and will play a crucial role in building successful cases.

Responsibilities:

Embrace and embody our mission of universal access to civil legal aid and our values of passion, grit, dynamism, caring, and teamwork.

Interpret and/or take notes at housing law intakes requiring Spanish interpretation, virtually and in person.

Provide clear information to guests and clients regarding their case, maintaining frequent communication throughout the process.

Support housing attorneys in civil litigation in San Francisco Superior Court, San Francisco Rent Board, and Housing Authority hearings.

Advise clients on proper small claims defense and affirmative small claims case initiations (with attorney supervision).

Draft pleadings, propound and respond to discovery, assist attorneys in drafting motions, and conduct legal research (with attorney supervision).

Support housing team members, interns, and volunteers in meeting our organization's mission.

Provide services and support to our low-income clients with sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic differences.

Requirements:

At least an associate's degree or equivalent (a paralegal certificate is fine).

Comfortable translating and interpreting from English to Spanish and vice versa legal information without assistance.

Ability to commute to any of ODL's offices three days a week.

Strong time management skills and the ability to organize time and manage diverse activities.

High level of comfort learning and using technology and cloud-based case management systems.

Must genuinely enjoy working with low-income clients and be able to work competently with clients impacted by trauma.

Must actively demonstrate cultural humility and sensitivity to barriers low-income residents face.

Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Bonus Points:

Previous experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretary, tenant organizer, or client advocate.

A paralegal certificate.

Basic knowledge of California and/or San Francisco housing law.

Experience with filing and interacting within the San Francisco Superior Court.

Experience working with low-income and vulnerable populations.

Experience working in a high-volume direct services legal aid or similar environment.

Starting compensation for a legal assistant is $70,500-$86,500; for a paralegal, it's $72,500-$88,500.

Benefits:

Loan Repayment Assistance.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan offerings at 100% coverage.

Paid mental health benefit.

Generous paid time off (four weeks vacation and two weeks sick/care).

Flexible work hours.

Generous paid parental leave.

401K/Retirement Account.

Strong organizational culture.

Professional development opportunities.

Applications submitted prior to September 20, 2024 will receive priority consideration.

Ideal Start Date: September 2024

Open Door Legal is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process.

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