Legal Administrative Assistant (Volunteer Lawyer's Program)

For a list of all open positions, please see our Careers page.

Bay Area Legal Services is seeking to fill a full-time Legal Administrative Assistant position on their Volunteer Lawyer's Program Team.

Bay Area Legal Services (BALS) is seeking to fill a full-time position for our VLP office located in Downtown Tampa. The VLP recruits volunteer attorneys to assist clients through self-help clinics and/or direct representation in civil matters including family law, bankruptcy, contracts, probate, guardianships and other legal matters. This is a professional position performing tasks for the VLP under the supervision of the Pro Bono Director. This position requires a substantial degree of independence and responsibility. Work involves a high degree of initiative and interaction with volunteer attorneys and clients and extensive use of computer and information systems. The nature of the work in this position requires a responsible, reliable, and trustworthy individual.

Applicants seeking employment with us should understand and share our commitment to the BALS’ mission and vision, and be willing to abide by the five core values of Bay Area Legal Services. 

Office Location

Volunteer Lawyers Program
George Edgecomb Courthouse
800 E Twiggs Street
Tampa, FL 33602

Illustrative Duties:

• Administrative Support: Open, stamp, and handle all correspondence addressed to the VLP, order supplies for the entire team, process check requests, maintain copiers, keep master calendar for the team, send status request emails to attorneys with an open VLP or Community Counsel case, and respond to attorney and client inquiries.
• Schedule and set up trainings for volunteers for Intake and the Domestic Violence Assistance Program.
• Clinics: Reserve rooms for our clinics, coordinate volunteer opportunities with the volunteer attorneys, send reminder emails to the volunteer attorneys and clients, set up Zoom meetings for virtual clinics, ensure all case documents are provided to volunteers prior to the clinic
• Follow up with BALS team referrals and keep a referral log. 
• Case Handling: Process applications for services, enter data into Legal Server and other logs, open and close cases in Legal Server, set up files according to compliance requirements, communicate with clients and volunteers regarding case matters, prepare opening, thank you, and closing letters, and enter pro bono time in Legal Server for volunteer attorneys. 
• Serve as back-up for the Case Referral Manager during any absences. 
• Pro Bono Awards Ceremony: Assist in gathering statistics, award nominations, sending invitations, preparing name tags, and mailing letters and commemorative pins. 
• Compliance: Ensure that closed cases meet our compliance standards. 
• Grants and Reports: Assist the Pro Bono Director with the Circuit Pro Bono Committee’s Annual Report, Quarterly Reports, and LSC reports. 
• Outreach: Attend Hillsborough County Bar Association Luncheons and staff VLP table at networking events.
• Community Counsel Project: Conduct monthly phone conferences with Community Counsel Project Director to discuss cases, volunteer attorney recruitment and coordination of Nonprofit Business Legal Advice Clinic.
• Perform other duties as designated by the Pro Bono Director. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent Certificate of Completion (GED) with 3 years of experience as administrative assistant and 1 of these years in a Legal Administrative Assistant or Legal Administrative Support Position.
• Intermediate level proficiency with MS Office software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, very detailed and deadline oriented.
• Ability to interview clients to determine essential facts and issues with regard to the nature and severity of their legal problems.
• Ability to work responsibly and independently, being a contributing team member, and comfortable with case management and organizing files and data.
• Ability and willingness to work in close contact with staff on legal problems of clients and to accept supervision and instruction.
• Sympathetic and compassionate understanding of the social, economic and legal issues faced by low-income individuals with limited access to such services. Ability to relate well and effectively with diverse groups and individuals.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Work experience in a law firm
• Bilingual in English, Spanish or other languages
• Work with low income population

Compensation/Benefits: 

• Starting hourly rate for external applicants is $21.80/hr. (increases based on relevant experience).  
• Reimbursement for travel expenses (mileage etc.)
• Bay Area offers a comprehensive benefit package including a 4% match for the 403b retirement plan with immediate vesting as well as Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability coverage and more.
• Bay Area also offers generous time off and work life balance with 13 paid holidays and three (3) weeks’ vacation for the 1st year of employment and a 37.5 hour work week.

This position requires successful completion of a level II background screening based on the required duties and responsibilities
 

How to Apply:  

• Send Resume and cover letter to recruiting@bals.org
• Include where you applied for this position (ex: bals.org, LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.).

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.