Paralegal - Public Benefits
Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to those living in poverty for over 50 years. They are seeking a full-time paralegal to assist individuals in applying for public benefits and to provide support to attorneys in various legal tasks. Responsibilities Develop, maintain, and grow knowledge of law and procedures related to Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits and benefits administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) Conduct intake and comprehensive legal screening for potential new clients Represent clients by undertaking such activities as: interview clients and conduct initial fact gathering; conduct factual and legal research; devise, update, and implement case strategies; prepare a case for hearing; draft legal documents; negotiate; present evidence; interrogate witnesses; conduct oral advocacy in administrative proceedings; and properly maintain an ongoing client relationship Assist clients to apply for benefits from the IDHS and SSA including completing and submitting application forms and obtaining, preparing, and submitting other documents necessary to establish eligibility Provide administrative and litigation support to attorneys including, but not limited to drafting letters, pleadings, discovery, records requests; creating outreach materials; and maintaining paper files and intake materials Provide advice and referrals to individuals Participate in maintaining good community relations by acting as a liaison between community groups and the Legal Aid Chicago staff. Tasks may include regular application assistance activities at off-site locations; outreach and community education to client groups and social service agency personnel; advocacy training in legal rights Maintain knowledge of the case acceptance criteria of the Public Benefits Practice group and other Legal Aid Chicago practice groups to facilitate appropriate internal referrals Maintain case files and accurate case notes and timekeeping in electronic case management system Track data related to grants and assist with grant reporting Partner and collaborate with other Legal Aid Chicago staff, as well as staff from partner agencies Maintain proficiency with equipment and technology necessary to perform the duties of the position Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorney and Director Skills Strong oral and written communication skills Highly developed organizational skills Great client counseling skills Genuine desire to interact with clients Knowledge of and experience with public benefits issues Collegial and demonstrate a commitment to and experience with our client communities and/or people living in poverty Ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers and the community we serve Ability to work well under pressure, independently and as part of a team Fluency in Spanish is a plus Benefits Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment 19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost Monthly internet reimbursement Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program Company Overview Legal Aid Chicago provides free legal assistance in civil cases to people. It was founded in 1972, and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, with a workforce of 201-500 employees. Its website is