Legal Assistant - Michigan Legal Services

Detroit, MI 48201

About the Job

Are looking to have meaningful work that has a direct impact the Detroit Community?

Are you looking for work-life balance?

Then don't waste any more time and apply for our Legal Assistant - Housing opening.

Overview:

The Legal Assistant Housing will work in cooperation with the legal staff of Michigan Legal Services (MLS) and others to address eviction cases and other landlord/tenant matters.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement:

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions:

Interview clients who have a pending eviction or other landlord/tenant-related issues.
Draft correspondence to clients and appropriate government agencies.
Prepare intake paperwork in a timely, complete, and accurate manner.
Assist clients in addressing the landlord/tenant issue.
Coordinate with social services workers to resolve issues with the state and ensure that our clients are supported effectively.
Draft letters to landlords, housing inspectors, and various governmental office.
Draft pleadings for court under the supervision of staff attorneys
Perform other landlord/tenant-related tasks as assigned by the executive director or program coordinator.
Perform legal research.
Collect and track documents for client projects.
Assist with administrative tasks as needed.
Maintain confidentiality of client information.
Refer cases in need of legal help or with more complex issues to appropriate legal staff and redirect issues beyond legal scope to appropriate MLS staff.
Maintain case and contact records in suitable files for efficiency of communication.
Be aware of the programs and policies of MLS and external programs that provide comprehensive assistance to our clients.
Perform other housing-related tasks as needed and as assigned by the executive director.
Understanding and becoming proficient in Justice Server.

Qualifications:
Successful candidates will believe in MLS’s mission and demonstrate a passion for driving the organization’s growth.

They will also have:

HSD Required. A bachelor’s degree or associate degree preferred in social services.
1 -2 years of Legal Assistant experience is preferred.
Excellent writing, research, and organizational skills, with a strong attention to detail.
Experience with Microsoft Office and intermediate computer literacy.
The ability to learn quickly and to balance multiple projects at once.
Displays original thinking and creativity and meets challenges with resourcefulness.
Requires a courteous, patient individual with the ability to work calmly under stress, understanding the environment of change, deadlines, and interruptions.
Good oral, math, and written communications skills.
Ability to problem solve effectively.
Good organizational skills and accuracy.

Benefits:

Dental insurance. (100% premium paid by MLS)
Flexible schedule.
Health insurance. (100% premium paid by MLS)
Group Life insurance. (100% premium paid by MLS)
Paid time off.
Parental leave.
Professional development assistance.
Vision insurance. (100% premium paid by MLS)
Group STD/LTD Insurance (100% premium paid by MLS)
401K Plan

Schedule:

8-hour shift.

MLS values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.

Source : Michigan Legal Services