Administrative Assistant or Paralegal

Responsibilities

The Administrative Assistant or Paralegal will organize bankruptcy clinics, conduct client intakes, and prepare legal documents for pro bono placement. They will also provide administrative support to the team, manage data entry, and assist in implementing AI tools for clinic workflows.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an associate or bachelor's degree along with a paralegal certificate or at least one year of legal experience under a California attorney. Proficiency in Spanish and 1-5 years of experience in a legal services or law office setting are required.

Skills

• Bankruptcy law
• Client intake
• Legal document preparation
• Data entry
• Case management
• Court filing
• Spanish fluency
• Microsoft Excel
• AI tools
• Communication skills
• Organizational skills
• Emotional intelligence
• Cultural competency
• Legal research
• Pro bono coordination

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance
• Disability plans
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Public transportation reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Professional development support

About this role

Description
ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.

Public Counsel has a staff of approximately 170. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

ABOUT CONSUMER RIGHTS & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

CREJ advances racial and economic justice by representing and advocating for individuals who are low-income and their families to improve their financial futures, safeguard intergenerational wealth, address systemic inequalities, and oppose the institutions and companies that take advantage of the communities we serve. Our diverse team provides direct services to low-income people in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, engages in impact litigation on consumer and civil rights issues, and advocates for laws and policies to protect consumers and the economically vulnerable at the local, state and national levels. In addition to a core group of attorneys and staff dedicated to consumer and economic justice issues, CREJ also encompasses access to justice clinics for state appellate and federal self-represented litigants. CREJ also runs Cancer Justice, a national program focused on the legal and financial impacts of cancer, particularly issues affecting economic stability and health equity.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Program Manager for the Bankruptcy Clinic the new Administrative Assistance or Paralegal will:
Organize and staff bankruptcy workshops and clinics, both in person and virtually (Zoom/Teams)
Conduct client intakes and gather relevant documents and information
Return message line calls and process online intakes
Prepare cases for placement with pro bono attorneys
Assist with preparing case memos, complaints, and document gathering
Coordinate data entry and outcome tracking for legal matters to support grant and management reporting, as directed by the Program Manager
Provide administrative support to the Program Manager and attorneys on the team
Prepare, serve, and file court pleadings as needed
Assist in developing informational materials
Liaise with other Public Counsel departments to coordinate supplies delivery and ensure the clinic runs smoothly
Work with the Program Manager to develop and implement AI tools in bankruptcy clinic workflows
Perform other duties as assigned
Requirements
ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Associate/Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and either: (1) paralegal certificate/degree in paralegal studies from an ABA-approved institution; or (2) at least 1 year of legal experience under the supervision of a California attorney
1-5 years of experience in legal services or a law office
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish
Excellent IT skills, including Excel, and a commitment to using AI to improve our services
Attention to detail and outstanding organizational skills
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
High levels of emotional intelligence, maturity, and cultural competency, including curiosity, self-awareness, awareness of bias, empathy, patience, listening skills, and a growth mindset
Strong team player who is willing to pivot and pitch in as needed
Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the communities Public Counsel serves

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS
Full-time/non-exempt
Salary range for an Administrative Assistant is $55,000-$60,496.25 ($28.21-$31.02 per hour) and for a Paralegal is $56,000-$62,224.71 ($28.72-$31.91 per hour) depending upon years of experience.
Bargaining
Probationary period: 6 months for Administrative Assistant or 9 months for Paralegal
Fixed-duration position funded until September 30, 2027. This position is created with designated funds through September 30, 2027. Continued employment past this date is contingent on additional funding for the position. Funding for this clinic has been renewed for the past several years and is likely to continue to be renewed for the foreseeable future. However, continued funding cannot be guaranteed.
Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:
Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage
Dental and vision coverage
Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans
Generous paid time off (per year):
15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
2 personal observance days
11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)
Additional ...

About Public Counsel

Law Practice · 51-200 employees · headquartered in Los Angeles, CA · founded 1970