POSITION: Bilingual Paralegal- Consumer and Bankruptcy Units

DAYS/HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, 35 hours per week (with 1 evening clinic)

REPORTS TO: Staff Attorney, Grace Brockmeyer

LOCATION: 7 Winthrop Square, Floor 2, Boston, MA 02110

* Hybrid- This position is currently hybrid, necessitating in person office attendance for 2 days weekly

Salary: $53,575

Click here to apply! 

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

As a vital member of the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) in the Greater Boston area, you will play a crucial role in supporting low-income individuals facing civil legal challenges. In this position, your responsibilities will encompass a broad spectrum of legal and administrative tasks aimed at facilitating the operations of the unit and providing effective assistance to attorneys and pro bono volunteers. In this role, your dedication to public interest work and commitment to promoting access to justice will be paramount. Your duties will include:

• Case Management: Overseeing the entire lifecycle of cases, including intake, organization of case files, scheduling appointments, and maintaining meticulous records of client interactions and case progression.
• Legal Research and Writing: Assisting attorneys and pro bono volunteers by conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, and preparing for hearings or trials.
• Client Communication: Engaging with clients to gather pertinent information, offer updates on case developments, and coordinate appointments or referrals to additional services as required.
• Training and Support: Delivering comprehensive training and ongoing assistance to both attorneys and pro bono volunteers to ensure they are well-equipped to handle their caseloads effectively.

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING:

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Bilingual

PREFERRED EDUCATION/TRAINING/KNOWLEDGE:

• Prior experience working in legal aid, the court system or a law office that handles civil cases
• Prior experience with an organization serving low-income populations
• Fluency in Spanish
• Knowledge of MA laws surrounding Bankruptcy and Consumer
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, database and web content management systems, and collaborative project tools.
• Ability to effectively engage with the private bar in recruiting and retaining volunteer attorneys.

REQUIRED MENTAL/PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

• Ability to use a computer and phone for several hours a day
• Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in the Greater Boston area
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills internally and externally.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and have the ability to be detail oriented.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, be reliable and flexible.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Bankruptcy Paralegal Duties

• Develop and maintain the administrative support for screening new cases to ensure client eligibility for VLP services and completion of files for screening by staff attorneys in a timely manner
• Draft case referral memos to be reviewed by staff attorney
• Provide the main telephone support for fielding questions from clients seeking to file bankruptcy.
• Follow up with clients on cases after clinics that need further assistance or representation.
• Provide administrative and technical support for volunteer attorneys during the duration of their bankruptcy case.
• Assist with the recruitment of attorneys who will accept bankruptcy cases.
• Report to supervisor when bankruptcy intakes and referrals need to be adjusted.
• Organize and compile reports on intake and referral statistics.
• Schedule clients and attorneys and intern volunteers for monthly bankruptcy clinics.
• Set up monthly bankruptcy clinics in the office or at DotHouse.
• Conduct intake of new clients at the Bankruptcy clinics to ensure eligibility; collect required documentation for bankruptcy cases and assist with obtaining credit reports
• Attend trainings as needed for professional development.
• Maintain Bankruptcy case reports
• Delegate case processing tasks to interns as needed.
• Assist with bankruptcy grant requirements.
• Prepare cases for closing weekly.

Consumer Unit (shared with the Economic Fairness Project Coordinator)

• Attend Consumer case review, assist with client follow up and case processing
• Conduct intakes of new clients at the small claims clinics (shared with the Economic Fairness Paralegal).
• Conduct post-clinic follow-up with clients and case processing to ensure documents and notes are accurate and current.
• Follow up with clients on cases after clinics that need further assistance or representation.
• Draft case referral memos to be reviewed by staff attorney.
• Assist with the recruitment of attorneys who will accept consumer
• Attend trainings as needed for professional development.
• Delegate case processing tasks to interns as needed.
• Track and report statistics (i.e., defaults) from consumer clinics to the Economic Fairness Project Coordinator for reports and outreaches.
• Prepare cases for closing weekly.
• Participate in other projects as needed to continue the VLP mission.

Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our ideal candidates are respectful of an inclusive work environment. VLP strives to ensure that those working in our organization reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. VLP encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions. 

Click here to apply!

This application will remain open until the position has been filled.

POSITION: Supervising Attorney of Family Law & Guardianship Units  

DAYS/HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm  

REPORTS TO: Geraldine Gruvis-Pizarro, Esq. Director of Advocacy and Pro Bono 

LOCATION: 7 Winthrop Square, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02110 * Hybrid 

SALARY: $97,850  

SUMMARY OF POSITION:  

The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) is a non-profit legal services organization that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Greater Boston, primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys.    

The Family Law and Guardianship unit at VLP is one of the busiest units at VLP. The supervising attorney will provide oversight and support in substantive law and general litigation practice. A clearly defined substantive supervisory structure will elevate the skills of the attorneys in the Family Law and Guardianship unit and improve the consistency, accuracy, and depth of the advice and mentoring given to both VLP staff and pro bono attorneys, to better serve our clients and community.   The supervising attorney will also rotate as an on-call attorney at our call center.  

VLP is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ a diverse staff.    

REQUIRED EDUCATION/TRAINING/KNOWLEDGE:    

• Law degree from an accredited law school   
• Admission to and good standing in Massachusetts bar   

REQUIRED MENTAL/PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:   

• 7+ years in full-time family law and/or guardianship law, including litigation.    
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills  
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines 
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and with staff at outside organizations 
• Ability to effectively engage with the private bar to recruit, train, and mentor volunteer attorneys 
• Ability to use a computer several hours per day 
• Ability to communicate in person, by telephone, and by computer  
• Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in Greater Boston  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:  

• Maintain expertise in family law and guardianship law  
• Lead weekly unit case reviews and provide oversight on follow-through  
• Effectively and efficiently handle a small caseload  
• Supervise weekly family law and guardianship clinics  
• Provide substantive family law and guardianship supervision at clinics and as needed to unit staff attorneys, including answering questions and reviewing advice and drafts of  

documents and closing cases  

• Develop training for staff on family law and guardianship and general litigation  
• Supervise staff attorneys in the Family Law & Guardianship unit and the DotHouse Unit, including reviewing and approving time for payroll, approving time-off requests, and approving training requests  
• Provide oversight of the DotHouse Unit  
• Supervise and mentor paralegals, interns, and pro bono attorneys  
• Review cases for merit and alignment with priorities  
• Recruit and maintain relationships with volunteers from the private bar  
• Conduct training for volunteers, often during evening hours  
• Prepare cases for pro bono assignment, including reviewing memos and documents  
• Assist in placement of cases with pro bono attorneys  
• Monitor pro bono cases to ensure quality and competent representation  
• Participation in legal aid coalitions and collaborations  
• Assist with grant applications and reports  
• Other responsibilities as needed  

Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our ideal candidates are respectful of an inclusive work environment. VLP strives to ensure that those working in our organization reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. VLP encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions.