Intake Paralegal

Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s Joplin office is seeking an intake paralegal. This role is central to our efforts to build a stronger administrative foundation for serving our clients and supporting our staff. This is a hybrid role at the heart of how our office runs: you'll be the first person many clients speak to, conducting intake interviews and screening applicants for our services, while also providing administrative support that keeps the office working for clients and staff alike. If you are detail-oriented, mission-driven, and thrive in a collaborative environment where your work makes a real difference in people's lives, we encourage you to apply. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Answer phones and greet visitors 
• Take applications for services and screen applicants for eligibility, including income, assets, and case type.  
• Conduct in-depth interviews with eligible applicants about their legal problems, completing full intake to gather the facts, documents, and details attorneys need to evaluate the case.  
• Provide administrative support to attorneys, paralegals, and supervisors across practice areas, including the following: 
• Prepare letters and correspondence to clients, ensuring appropriate form, style, punctuation, spelling, and grammar. 
• Coordinate distribution of mail, note relevant deadlines and hearing dates, and route time-sensitive materials to appropriate staff. 
• Maintain and organize client files and case-related documents in accordance with Legal Aid's records management protocols. 
• Perform data entry and maintain accurate records in Legal Aid's case management system, including opening and closing cases as appropriate. 
• Provide information, answer questions, and schedule appointments for unit staff as needed 
• Communicate with clients in a professional, compassionate, and culturally sensitive manner, recognizing that many clients are experiencing a crisis or complex trauma. 
• Maintain strict confidentiality of client and organizational information at all times.  

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in clerical and office administration, including strong typing, spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams 
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to work collaboratively and professionally with a diverse team 
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks across different teams simultaneously, with a solution-oriented mindset and the ability to adapt under pressure 
• High level of discretion, confidentiality, and patience in all client and organizational interactions 
• Commitment to Legal Aid's mission of expanding access to justice 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a legal, nonprofit, or social services setting. 
• Bilingual or multilingual skills, particularly Spanish.  
• Familiarity with case management systems or legal technology platforms. 

Location

This role is an in-person role based in Legal Aid's Joplin, Missouri office. Regular in-office attendance is the expectation for this role. Legal Aid offers flexible work arrangements to support employees in maintaining schedules that enable them to perform at their best.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $51,750 - $68,310 on Legal Aid’s formal salary scale. Placement on the range will be based on factors such as years of relevant experience, budget, and internal equity. Employees who demonstrate fluency in a second language are eligible for an annual salary supplement of $3,600.  

Legal Aid offers a comprehensive benefits package including: 

• Medical Plans with PPO or HSA options 
• Dental Plan 
• Vision Plan 
• Life Insurance 
• Short-Term Disability 
• Long-Term Disability 
• Accident Insurance 
• Critical Illness Insurance 
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical or dependent care 
• Health Savings Accounts 
• Paid CLE and Bar Dues 
• Paid Time Off:  Vacation, Sick, Personal and Holidays 
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program 
• Travel and parking reimbursement 
• 401k and up to 3.5% employer match 

Please submit your resume and cover letter at http://www.lawmo.org/careers/current-openings.   

LAWMO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Those applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/application process should contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected].