Pro Bono Coordinator

Description

 About Georgia Legal Services Program

Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) is a statewide, nonprofit public interest law firm in Georgia that offers free civil legal services to low-income individuals, fostering equal access to justice and opportunities out of poverty. GLSP is founded on the belief that everyone deserves high-quality legal services regardless of income, age, race, or other demographic factors.

GLSP runs 10 regional offices that serve Georgians with low incomes living outside metro Atlanta in 154 of the state’s 159 counties. GLSP employs approximately 182 full-time staff members.  We provide free legal aid across a wide range of civil issues, including family law, housing, access to public benefits, eviction prevention, farmworkers' rights, and educational access.

Position Summary:

The Pro Bono Unit Staff Paralegal is a paralegal position within the Pro Bono Unit (PBU) of GLSP. The PBU staff is a mix of lawyers, paralegals, and other professionals who connect private attorneys who want to volunteer with clients who need legal assistance.

GLSP seeks a PBU Staff Paralegal to work in the Columbus Regional Office. The Columbus Office serves 15 counties. The PBU Staff Paralegal primarily engages in activities to recruit and place cases with volunteer lawyers in the region and supports the regional office’s broader work. The position is a dual team position working closely with staff in the Regional Office to serve clients in the regional area and connect with local volunteers and resources, as well as working with PBU staff across the state on broader volunteer engagement and programming.  The PBU Staff Paralegal is co-supervised by a PBU Co-Director and the regional Managing Attorney.

The successful candidate will be responsible for using statewide policies and best practices to maintain and develop local pro bono recruitment, retention, and volunteer recognition strategies; place pro bono cases within the Columbus region; assist with local case and client management, including intake and screening of cases and representation in some administrative law matters; and strengthen partnerships with local bar associations, law schools, and other legal professional networks. On a statewide level, the PBU Staff Paralegal will collaborate with other members of the Pro Bono Unit to ensure that clients receive consistent services throughout the 154-county GLSP territory.

Primary Duties:

• Innovate and lead local regional efforts in developing and maintaining pro bono programming;

• Place and oversee the progress of GLSP pro bono cases and matters with volunteer lawyers;

• Employ strategic pro bono communication and assist in GLSP internal and external communication;

• Assist in recruiting volunteers for GLSP pro bono initiatives;

• Organize and support community education and partnership activities in the local office and in combination with the statewide Unit;

• Conduct outreach to varied geographic areas and communities with low incomes, building relationships and maintaining regular contact with community partners and referral providers; 

• Represent clients in administrative law cases; 

• Conduct initial intake and screening of new cases for the region; and

• Support statewide pro bono projects.

Requirements

• Must have and maintain an active driver’s license

• Must be self-directed, willing to take initiative, and detail oriented

• Proven ability to innovate and improve existing programs

Desirable Experience

• College graduate or Paralegal Certificate 

• Experience working in a law firm or nonprofit organization

• Experience working with client groups/substantive legal issues aligned with GLSP priority areas, including clients who are survivors of violence, kinship caregivers, the unhoused, and/or elderly and cases with substantive legal issues in healthcare, housing/eviction, discrimination, and public benefits

• Experience complying with and strategically meeting grant restrictions, requirements, and deliverables

• Ability to speak Spanish

• Familiarity with office technologies and equipment. This includes but is not limited to Adobe Pro, LegalServer, Microsoft Office applications, SharePoint, and Zoom

Professional/Other Qualities

• Maintain files, workload, and resources in a highly organized manner

• Communicate professionally and effectively in speech and writing. Seeks opportunities to continually strengthen oral advocacy and legal writing abilities.

• Able to work in team setting and collaboratively achieve team goals, including collaboration with coworkers virtually as well as in person

• Present a professional appearance and a friendly manner

• Dependable and punctual

• Willing and able to travel to attend and support Pro Bono Unit clinics, conferences, and other events as scheduled, assigned, and necessary. May include overnight travel.

Benefits

• Salary range $35,975 - $47,725, dependent upon experience and qualifications. 

• Probationary period: 6 months

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account

• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plan

• 15 accrued vacation days, including 2 personal days.  Vacation days increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment

• 15 accrued sick days

• 13 paid holidays, including your birthday holiday 

• 3 Summer Days (paid holidays of your choosing during the summer)

• 35 hours per week. 

• 403(b) retirement plan with GLSP 4% match up to $5,000

• Up to 10 weeks paid parental leave

• Organizational Wellness activities

• Professional development opportunities

• Additional supplement for employees who pass GLSP’s Spanish proficiency test and use Spanish in their GLSP position 

How to Apply: 

A statement of interest reflecting your experiences working with an organization that works with low-income population and a resume should be submitted to:  https://www.glsp.org/join-the-team/

GLSP is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Georgia Legal Services Program not to discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, medical condition, veteran status, political affiliation, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. 

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