Paralegal (Children's Law Center)

 Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Are you passionate about helping others who are in need across different groups? Do you value work life balance? If you answer yes to these questions, Bay Area Legal Services may be the workplace for you!

Our Mission: Providing the highest quality legal counsel by:

• Assisting individuals and non-profit groups with limited access to legal services;
• Resolving the legal problems of clients; and
• Preserving the independence, hope, and dignity of those we serve.

Our Vision: 

• Creating pathways to justice through high-quality legal services, education and community partnerships. 

Our firm includes over 190 dedicated staff members comprised of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff who work to carry out our mission and vision daily.

Position Title:

Paralegal (Children’s Law Center): Full-Time (Hybrid, 3 days in office & 2 days remote)

Home Office Location: 

L. David Shear Children’s Law Center

1000 N. Ashley Dr. Suite 518 Tampa, FL 

Position Summary: 

Highly responsible position under the direction and supervision of team attorneys, the paralegal is expected to provide advanced, complex assistance in support of team attorneys. From a trauma-informed perspective, the paralegal will work in collaboration with team attorneys and social workers to provide client-directed, holistic, and high-quality legal representation to child victims of abuse/neglect in dependency court. The paralegal will assist attorneys with all aspects of our representation which include obtaining, organizing, and synthesizing medical, educational, and mental health records, drafting pleadings and court orders, contacting and interviewing witnesses, communicating with caregivers and clients when directed, legal research for motion hearings, trial preparation and investigations. Also, assist attorneys and social workers with applications for benefits/services, including SSI Disability and Agency for Persons with Disabilities. The Paralegal supports staff who are facilitating or directly providing legal services to low-income clients.

Illustrative Duties:

• Investigate facts, interview witnesses and evidence for negotiations, and trials. Checks and examines law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, constitutions, and legal codes to prepare complex legal documents, such as legal memorandums, and pleadings. Assists attorneys with court orders after hearings with minimal supervision for attorney’s approval. Assists with trial preparation by organizing exhibits and assisting with other tasks as needed.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by supervising attorney and under the direction of the managing attorney. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum 2 years of experience as a paralegal with an AA degree in paralegal studies or 1-year experience as a paralegal with a Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or may substitute education with a total of 5 years’ experience as a paralegal.
• Excellent Time Management, Organizational Skills, detailed and deadline oriented.
• Excellent written, verbal and proof-reading skills. 
• Extremely client focused with the desire & ability to work effectively and compassionately with clients in low-income levels facing social, economic, and legal issues who have limited access to services to assist them. 
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and complete majority of tasks independently.
• Ability to work in and contribute effectively to a team environment
• Extensive knowledge of legal documents, procedures and terminology, E-filing of documents and processes. 
• Extensive knowledge of legal case management systems and accurately tracking and processing legal case data using these systems. 
• Complaint/Objection handling skills, Stress management skills, Telephone etiquette skills

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience at a Non-Profit a plus
• Knowledge of the Florida State Courts System
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes related to child welfare and protection
• Medical/nursing/mental health/special education advocacy background helpful 
• Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) through Florida Bar