Location: all cities,MI, USA
POSITION: Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) is seeking a Paralegal to provide program-wide support to MAP's five local offices with the administration of a new grant related to veterans. The Paralegal will be the primary intake person, conducting intakes with veterans on a range oflegal issues, triaging and prioritizing cases to be sent to local managers for review, and providing additional case support to the local managers as time permits. The position is fully remote but will require regular travel to VA clinics in Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Battle Creek, with the possibility of other travel in our service area as needed. Applicants must reside in the state of Michigan. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: Michigan Advocacy Program's mission is to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions. MAP has provided civil legal aid for those unable to afford an attorney for more than 50 years. Today, MAP's Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) helps individuals and families achieve safety, stability, and economic security by providing free civil legal services with an emphasis on homelessness prevention, domestic violence and elder abuse prevention, and assistance in accessing health care, food, and needs-based income programs. In addition to LSSCM, MAP manages six statewide programs serving immigrant communities (Michigan Immigrant Rights Center), vulnerable older adults (Michigan Elder Justice Initiative), survivors of domestic violence and elder abuse (Crime Victims Legal Assistance Program), and providing access to legal information to self-represented litigants (Michigan Legal Help Program). MAP has a staff of about 230 people in offices in Battle Creek, Detroit, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Monroe, and Ypsilanti. Visit www.miadvocacy.org and www.lsscm.org for more information. RESPONSIBILITIES: The Paralegal will conduct screening and intake with veterans on a range of legal issues. Under the supervision of an attorney, they will answer questions and make appropriate referrals, draft documents including advice letters, pleadings, and miscellaneous correspondence, and provide attorney casework support. The position will also require regular travel to VA clinics in our service area. QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will be comfortable with and skilled at communicating with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Some college is preferred, and we will also consider equivalent professional and/or life experience. Candidate must be detail-oriented self-starters with strong organizational, time-management, and computer skills. Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income and underserved communities, and who display the patience, empathy, and sensitivity necessary for this work. Veterans and those with prior legal experience are encouraged to apply. BENEFITS: Starting salary is from $46,818 depending on experience. MAP offers a generous benefits package including life, short and long term disability, health, vision, dental and flexible spending accounts. If an applicant does not require health benefits, they have the option to take an annual $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary paid over the course of the year. MAP also has a generous leave policy allowing staff to accrue 3 weeks paid vacation the first year and 15 paid holidays, as well as a 401K retirement plan including employer match for eligible staff after 6 months of employment. MAP is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. MAP is a unionized program. TO APPLY: Please complete this application and submit your resume and cover letter. You can also access the application by copying and pasting the following web address into your browser: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. The Michigan Advocacy Program is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.