Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.

LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer. 

Receptionist/Intake Paralegal

Staten Island Legal Services

Staten Island Legal Services (across the street from the ferry), seeks a full-time Receptionist/Intake Paralegal to join our team. This position is available for immediate start.

Program Description           

Staten Island Legal Services (SILS) fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. SILS provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Staten Island’s diverse low-income populations. SILS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients —preserving affordable and decent housing, preventing foreclosures, representing survivors of domestic violence, assisting in obtaining government benefits, obtaining immigration status and preventing deportations, and advocating for the LGBTQ community, students with educational needs and people with disabilities.

SILS is a part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), which is the largest provider of civil legal services in the country. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.

LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center.

Role and Responsibilities

The Receptionist/Intake Paralegal reports to the Interim Associate Director. This position is in person at our office in St. George, Staten Island, and when necessary off-site. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Welcoming prospective clients and visitors to the office and directing them to the appropriate case handler or external resource;
• Answering the phones, including responding to inquiries regarding our services, directing calls, and taking messages;
• Performing preliminary intake or screening interviews, including preparation of appropriate forms, which may require occasional typing;
• Conducting screenings and intake via telephone, video, and in-person at our office and off-site to determine whether prospective clients can be assisted by our office, including obtaining necessary demographic data, initial determination of financial eligibility, and ascertaining type of problem;
• Coordinating follow-up services, including appointments, referrals, client correspondence, and gathering documents and other information;
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of our office priorities and intake;
• Maintaining familiarity with internal and external referral resources to ensure appropriate client referrals;
• Identifying appropriate referrals for people who cannot be assisted by our office, and making referrals;
• Opening and closing files for clients and ensuring compliance with program protocols;
• Distributing basic client service information materials;
• Assisting case handlers on client-related matters, including making phone calls, sending basic correspondence and obtaining information;
• Entering and tracking information in electronic format, including databases and grant management systems and other formats, running reports with the data, and assisting in preparation for audits;
• Maintaining client-related files, including copying, scanning, uploading and distributing documents;
• Interpreting, translating, and using language assistance resources;
• Sorting and distributing the mail; and
• Other tasks as assigned consistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

Experience and Qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience working directly with the public;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a calm, helpful demeanor in a sometimes stressful and fast-paced environment;
• Be able to handle a busy reception desk and interact with a wide range of people including low-income clients, case handlers, and representatives of community organizations;
• Excellent attention to detail and able to meet deadlines;
• Excellent client interviewing skills (the ability to identify a client’s needs quickly and accurately);
• A demonstrated passion for social justice and a commitment to working with low-income communities.
• Strong written, communication and organization skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies; and
• Spanish language fluency is required.

Salary and benefits are determined by the Legal Services NYC Collective Bargaining Agreement. As fluency in Spanish is required, a language proficiency test and interpreter skills assessment will be administered.

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

How to Apply:

Interested individuals should upload their cover letter expressing your interest in the position and resume onto Greenhouse.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only

candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Please no telephone calls.

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional information about the practice may be found on our website, www.legalservicesnyc.org.

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.