Bilingual Housing Legal Assistant

Job purpose

Bilingual Housing Legal Assistant

Full-Time Position

San Rafael, California

Our Mission

Legal Aid of Marin provides no-cost, holistic, civil legal services and resources to Marin County residents
experiencing poverty and individuals who are currently, or have historically, been marginalized. Legal Aid
of Marin’s mission is to create an equitable Marin by empowering the community through legal
representation, advocacy, and education. We envision an inclusive Marin with equal justice and
opportunity for all.

Our Impact

Legal Aid of Marin (LAM) is a growing, diverse, and collaborative civil legal services organization staffed
by 15 mission-driven staff members. Each year, LAM provides thousands of Marin residents with access
to direct civil legal services and resources. Our priorities include recovering wages for immigrant
workers; advocating for and enforcing tenant protections; providing legal services aimed at homelessness
prevention and housing preservation; representing clients in consumer protection matters; connecting
seniors with estate planning services and other pro bono legal assistance; helping to restore driver’s
licenses and eliminate poverty-related fines through the Marin Community Court program; and
connecting Marin residents to local community-based organizations providing access to social safety net
services. Staff members work together to bring services to the community we serve by conducting
regular outreach in partnership with community-based organizations across Marin. We practice
community lawyering and work passionately to increase Marin County residents’ access to the civil
justice system.

Position Overview

This position will support LAM’s legal services by assisting LAM’s housing attorneys in providing
homelessness prevention legal services to low-income and otherwise marginalized renters living in Marin.
The legal assistant will also conduct regular off-site outreach in places where LAM’s clients live, work,
and gather.

 

Duties and responsibilities

  • Essential Functions
    • Assist housing attorneys by communicating with potential and existing clients, preparing legal documents, compiling and filing court pleadings, and supporting litigation activities
    •  Conduct client intakes at LAM’s office, by telephone, and at off-site outreach locations
    • Maintain complete and accurate client files in case management database and other systems
    • Address client needs holistically through effective cross-sector referrals
    • Provide interpretation and translation between Spanish and English as needed
    • Provide administrative support, such as creation and maintenance of informational flyers, legal resources, client files, and data entry
    • Make presentations, conduct workshops, and engage in regular and off-site community outreach
    • Build connections with community partners to facilitate clients’ access to these resources
    • Support organizational compliance with funder requirements, including data collection, grantreporting, point-in-time case numbers, demographics of clients served, timekeeping, and impact of legal services
    • Complete additional mission-aligned tasks as required by housing attorneys, Managing Attorney, Programs Officer, and Executive Director

Qualifications

  • Required Qualifications
    • Commitment to LAM’s mission and vision
    • Fluency in English and Spanish, both spoken and written
    •  Excellent oral and written communication skills
    • Ability to build consensus and support a collaborative environment 
    • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing, and professional environment 
    • Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
    • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with clients, attorneys, coworkers, and community partners  
    • Strong organizational skills and ability to perform detailed work accurately and under time constraints 
    •  Ability to multi-task, be proactive, and work independently as well as on a team
    • Willingness to receive feedback, follow directives, implement goals of organizational leadership, undergo relevant training, and address areas for professional growth 
    •  Proficient computer skills, including data entry and Microsoft Office
    •  Must possess a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and insurance

Compensation:

Pay is based on Legal Aid of Marin’s salary scale and is $31 per hour (40-hour work week). This is a non- exempt full-time position. Overtime hours are permitted, but only at the discretion of LAM’s executive director. Benefits include paid holidays; vacation leave; sick leave; health, dental and vision insurance; retirement plan participation; and employer contribution to retirement after six months of employment.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to: careers@legalaidmarin.org. Our review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Due to the number of candidates, we will only contact candidates moving forward in the interviewing process. Any questions about this posting should be sent via email to: jcalderon@legalaidmarin.org.

 

On-site Requirement

Only partial remote work is authorized for this position. This position will require three days per week of
on-site work in San Rafael and travel across Marin County as needed for outreach and other events. This
position is authorized to work remotely two days per week if desired, however, candidates must be
flexible to increased on-site work when required by their supervising attorney.

 

Legal Aid of Marin is committed to promoting a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women,
BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ community members, veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals
from historically underrepresented groups to apply. We are an equal-opportunity employer and refrain
from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or
expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic
protected by law.