Paralegal - Public Benefits (Veterans' Rights Project) - Legal Aid Chicago (Formerly LAF)
Chicago, IL
About the Job
This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more
information, please see:
https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/12205734
Legal Aid Chicago encourages applicants with relevant volunteer and work
experience, who have experiences with our client communities or
individuals who identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, or
otherwise having backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented
in the legal profession to apply.
For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal
assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each
year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal
problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair
evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all
individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation,
regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an
impediment to justice by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate
inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core
values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our offices, located
in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has
convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This
position may require travel to court or other outreach events.
The Public Benefits Practice Group (PBPG) challenges wrongful denials,
terminations, calculations, overpayments, and sanctions concerning
benefits from the Department of Human Services including SNAP, TANF,
AABD Cash, and Medicaid. The group also challenges wrongful denials,
terminations, and overpayments concerning benefits from the Social
Security Administration including SSI and Social Security Disability
benefits. The Veterans Rights Project within PBPG seeks to meet the
holistic civil legal needs of military veterans and their families with
special emphasis on benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Position:Veterans Rights Project Paralegal
Responsibilities: The paralegal will work under the direct
supervision of an attorney and the authority conferred upon the
paralegal in the handling of cases or client service functions is
determined by the supervisory attorney. The paralegal will handle all
functions related to casework, from initial intake through
representation of clients at administrative hearings. The duties of the
paralegal include the following:
- Conduct intake for the Veterans Rights Project at Legal Aid Chicago.
Manage an active phone system and provide response calls to veterans
seeking legal assistance. As part of the intake process: communicate
with clients to conduct intake, conduct interview and initial fact
gathering, consult with supervising attorney as to proper course of
action, preserve the confidence of clients, avoid conflicts of
interest, maintain the same ethical standards of conduct required of
attorneys
- Provide advice and referral to individuals not accepted as clients
and make appropriate referrals to additional or alternative legal
services and to necessary social services
- Represent clients by undertaking such activities as: factual and
legal research, devise, review, revise and implement case strategy,
prepare a case for hearing, draft legal papers, negotiate, present
evidence, interrogate witnesses, conduct oral advocacy, and properly
prepare the client and maintain an ongoing relationship
- Participate in maintaining good community relations by acting as a
liaison between community groups and the Legal Aid Chicago staff.
Tasks may include, without limitation: outreach and community
education to veterans groups and social service agency personnel;
advocacy training in legal rights and entitlement to above-named
groups; training of staff, and other groups, when assigned to or
approved by the supervisory attorney
- Assist the Veterans Rights Project in conducting community clinics
and events with pro bono attorneys
- Apply proper eligibility standards, both financial and subject
matters, in accepting clients for service
- Maintain knowledge of law and procedures related to benefits
administered by the Veterans Administration, the Social Security
Administration, and the Illinois Department of Human Services
- Prepare reports and statistics related to cases and other projects
- Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant
issues
- Track data related to grants and assist on related reporting
- Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant
issues
- Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case
management system
- Support attorneys in all stages of litigation
- Assist attorneys with administrative tasks
- Maintain proficiency with all equipment, computer hardware and
software necessary to perform the duties of the position and
- Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorneys and Director
Salary and Benefits:
This position is part of the National Organization of
information, please see:
https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/12205734
Legal Aid Chicago encourages applicants with relevant volunteer and work
experience, who have experiences with our client communities or
individuals who identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, or
otherwise having backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented
in the legal profession to apply.
For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal
assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each
year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal
problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair
evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all
individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation,
regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an
impediment to justice by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate
inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core
values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our offices, located
in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has
convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This
position may require travel to court or other outreach events.
The Public Benefits Practice Group (PBPG) challenges wrongful denials,
terminations, calculations, overpayments, and sanctions concerning
benefits from the Department of Human Services including SNAP, TANF,
AABD Cash, and Medicaid. The group also challenges wrongful denials,
terminations, and overpayments concerning benefits from the Social
Security Administration including SSI and Social Security Disability
benefits. The Veterans Rights Project within PBPG seeks to meet the
holistic civil legal needs of military veterans and their families with
special emphasis on benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Position:Veterans Rights Project Paralegal
Responsibilities: The paralegal will work under the direct
supervision of an attorney and the authority conferred upon the
paralegal in the handling of cases or client service functions is
determined by the supervisory attorney. The paralegal will handle all
functions related to casework, from initial intake through
representation of clients at administrative hearings. The duties of the
paralegal include the following:
- Conduct intake for the Veterans Rights Project at Legal Aid Chicago.
Manage an active phone system and provide response calls to veterans
seeking legal assistance. As part of the intake process: communicate
with clients to conduct intake, conduct interview and initial fact
gathering, consult with supervising attorney as to proper course of
action, preserve the confidence of clients, avoid conflicts of
interest, maintain the same ethical standards of conduct required of
attorneys
- Provide advice and referral to individuals not accepted as clients
and make appropriate referrals to additional or alternative legal
services and to necessary social services
- Represent clients by undertaking such activities as: factual and
legal research, devise, review, revise and implement case strategy,
prepare a case for hearing, draft legal papers, negotiate, present
evidence, interrogate witnesses, conduct oral advocacy, and properly
prepare the client and maintain an ongoing relationship
- Participate in maintaining good community relations by acting as a
liaison between community groups and the Legal Aid Chicago staff.
Tasks may include, without limitation: outreach and community
education to veterans groups and social service agency personnel;
advocacy training in legal rights and entitlement to above-named
groups; training of staff, and other groups, when assigned to or
approved by the supervisory attorney
- Assist the Veterans Rights Project in conducting community clinics
and events with pro bono attorneys
- Apply proper eligibility standards, both financial and subject
matters, in accepting clients for service
- Maintain knowledge of law and procedures related to benefits
administered by the Veterans Administration, the Social Security
Administration, and the Illinois Department of Human Services
- Prepare reports and statistics related to cases and other projects
- Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant
issues
- Track data related to grants and assist on related reporting
- Attend trainings and maintain up-to-date knowledge on relevant
issues
- Maintain case files and accurate timekeeping in electronic case
management system
- Support attorneys in all stages of litigation
- Assist attorneys with administrative tasks
- Maintain proficiency with all equipment, computer hardware and
software necessary to perform the duties of the position and
- Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorneys and Director
Salary and Benefits:
This position is part of the National Organization of
Source : Legal Aid Chicago (Formerly LAF)
