Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. (LAW) is hiring one full-time paralegal within its Milwaukee office. The paralegal will be placed with the Reentry Legal Services (RLS) Program. RLS works with Wisconsin’s Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide legal assistance to people releasing from prison. The primary job duty of this paralegal is helping incarcerated people apply for health care benefits as they navigate their release back into the community. Research has shown that people releasing from prison who are able to obtain public benefits are more stable, less likely to reoffend, and less likely to become homeless. The paralegal will also conduct educational sessions for incarcerated people on health care and other public benefits. This position is based in Legal Action’s Milwaukee office, but the paralegal will spend a significant amount of time in Wisconsin prisons. Travel to and from these prisons is required.

LEGAL ACTION OF WISCONSIN, INC

We are a large and vibrant non-profit law firm funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Victim of Crime Act funding, the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, and many other sources. Each year we provide free legal aid to about 13,500 low-income persons in Wisconsin’s southern 39 counties, with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Oshkosh, Green Bay, and La Crosse. In addition, the firm operates statewide projects for farmworkers and victims of human trafficking. Most of our work is in the areas of housing, public benefits, removing barriers to employment, consumer, and family law.

Legal Action believes that equal justice under law can only be achieved through the collaboration of a diverse staff. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQUIA+, people with disabilities, and people with life experiences or educational backgrounds that add to the firm’s diversity and our capacity to provide high-quality legal aid.

OFFICE LOCATION

The Milwaukee Area Office staff is housed at 633 W. Wisconsin Avenue and is comprised of 45 attorneys, 18 paralegals and 18 other administrative, professional and technical staff members that support LAW operations statewide. In addition to our office at 633 W Wisconsin Avenue, we place two attorneys at the Center for Driver’s License Recovery & Employment at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and we place one attorney and one paralegal at the Student Legal Aid Project at MATC. Flexible and hybrid work plans are available.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Suitable training will be provided, but applicants are expected to demonstrate a sense of reasoning and resources that are necessary to perform duties and responsibilities. Responsibilities include:

• Under the supervision of an attorney, conduct initial interviews with potential clients, determine eligibility for services, check for conflicts, gather relevant facts and documents, provide information, advocacy, and/or legal referral as needed.
• Conduct research for project attorneys.
• Attend meetings of project staff.
• Support attorneys in their case work, as assigned.
• Participate in and assist with training programs and otherwise become familiar with legal and other issues affecting our clients.
• Develop and maintain contact with other agencies, professionals, and the community in general regarding client needs.
• Assist with scheduling and appointments for clients and staff.
• Travel outside the office is required from time to time. For the RLS position, the paralegal will travel to prisons in the Racine area multiple times per week.
• Maintain orderly client files, in both paper and electronic form.
• Assist with closing files in a timely manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of all client information.
• Collect and enter data needed to meet grant reporting requirements.
• Give presentations to community members and to various agency staff. This may include developing outreach and training materials.
• The paralegal may perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS

• Experience in either investigation or administrative advocacy is preferred, but not required.
• An ability to speak Spanish or another language that is spoken by a significant number of eligible clients, such as Hmong, is preferred but not required.
• High school diploma or comparable experience is required. College degree or paralegal certificate is preferred.
• Experience in legal or human services field is desired.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of legal issues affecting clients and the procedures and skills necessary to advocate on their behalf.
• Ability to acquire knowledge about various agencies and programs that provide services to clients.
• Effective communication skills and ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other staff.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Adobe to prepare and to edit pleadings, forms, and correspondence.
• Experience with data entry and contemporaneous note taking.
• Proficiency in web-based research and other web-based activities.
• Commitment to providing legal services to low-income clients.
• Self-motivated, diligent, and able to prioritize tasks.
• Respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances.

• As a condition of employment, the Paralegal must pass the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) Pending Charge and Conviction Security Check. To complete the Security Check, the Paralegal will be required to submit a completed Application Supplement Conviction Record form (DOC-1098D) to the DOC. RLS Program employees are also required to adhere to a Fraternization Policy and Staff Sexual Assault Policy as a condition of employment.

Training will be provided. Upon hire, training needs will be assessed.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

At Legal Action of Wisconsin, health and safety is a top priority. We require all new, unrepresented employees and interns, law clerks, volunteers, and contractors from employment agencies or consulting firms to have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations and booster and to provide medical proof from Wisconsin’s Immunization Registry or from a medical provider of their fully vaccinated status as a condition of employment with Legal Action of Wisconsin within 28 days of their first day of employment. Individuals may request a medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Exemption requests must be completed and approved on or before the first day of employment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Enter information into a computer accurately. Answer numerous emails, phone calls, and other electronic communications throughout the day. Occasionally move objects, usually about 10 – 20 pounds. Retrieve documents from printers and copiers and similar office equipment and file or distribute as needed.

This position is mostly sedentary, with most of the duties performed on a computer, phone, table, or reception desk. Desk and workspaces will accommodate a wheelchair or other assistive devices. This position requires occasional short-distance or long-distance travel.

SALARY

As set forth in an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME District Council 32, Local 1954 for the Milwaukee office, the starting salary for this position is determined by the candidate’s years of relevant work experience.

The Tier I Paralegal salary ladder is as follows:

Paralegal TIER I

Step 0 $38,958.00

Step 1 $39,607.30

Step 2 $40,256.60

Step 3 $40,905.90

Step 4 $41,555.20

Step 5 $42,204.50

Step 6 $42,853.80

Step 7 $43,503.10

Step 8 $44,152.40

Step 9 $44,810.70

Step 10 $45,451.00

Step 11 $46,100.30

Step 12 $46,749.60

Step 13 $47,398.90

Step 14 $48,048.20

Step 15 $48,697.50

Step 16 $49,346.80

Step 17 $49,996.10

Step 18 $50,645.40

Nominal increases for additional steps.

The Tier II Paralegal salary ladder is as follows:

Paralegal TIER II

Step 0 $46,749.00

Step 1 $47,528.15

Step 2 $48,307.30

Step 3 $49,086.45

Step 4 $49,865.60

Step 5 $50,644.75

Step 6 $51,423.90

Step 7 $52,203.05

Step 8 $52,982.20

Step 9 $53,761.35

Step 10 $54,540.50

Step 11 $55,319.65

Step 12 $56,098.80

Step 13 $56,877.95

Step 14 $57,857.10

Step 15 $58,436.25

Step 16 $59,215.40

Step 17 $59,994,55

Step 18 $60,773.70

Nominal increases for additional steps.

Steps are determined by years of relevant previous experience. Legal Action’s salary plan provides for an annual step increase on the employee’s anniversary date if the Paralegal is not on a performance improvement plan.

SPANISH OR HMONG LANGUAGE FLUENCY PREMIUM: Legal Action’s Salary Administration Plan included additional pay of up to $4,800 annually for those employees who are fluent in Spanish or Hmong and utilize their language skills performing their work.

NATURE AND SCOPE OF JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES AND AUTHORITY

The work of Tier 1 positions is under close immediate supervision, closely-controlled, and highly structured because of the nature of the work itself or because of circumstances under which the job tasks are performed. Tier 1 positions must strictly adhere to Legal Action’s guidelines and procedures and have little or no authority to deviate from them without supervisory approval.

Tier 2 paralegals require minimal assistance or direction, a high level of efficiency, and/or independent initiative. Regular supervision is provided but may be less frequent than the Tier 1 paralegal positions. A Tier 2 paralegal does not always require detailed instructions, guidelines, procedures and/or rules to perform their duties. A Tier 2 paralegal has some autonomy to perform duties though must always follow the firm’s policies, operating procedures, compliance requirements, and instruction from our licensed attorneys.

Legal Action’s organizational structure does allow for additional career advancement opportunities, including for Paralegal Managers. Legal Action posts these opportunities as they become available.

BENEFITS

Legal Action provides a generous fringe benefits package, including employer-paid health and dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents. Some employees are required to contribute to the health insurance premium for their spouse, if the spouse has group health insurance provided by their employer. Legal Action also provides employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance and a profit-sharing retirement plan. Employees can enroll in a 401-K salary deferral plan options for retirement planning. Additional benefits include low-cost employee-paid vision coverage, income protection benefits such as, supplemental term life, accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity, short-term disability and accident insurance generous sick and annual leave, personal holidays, and four weeks of paid parental leave for eligible employees. Generous personal, sick and annual/vacation leave benefits upon hire.

GOVERNANCE

The position is represented for collective bargaining by AFSCME. If a policy is not covered by the collective bargaining agreement, this position is governed by Legal Action’s Personnel Policies and these policies are subject to unilateral change by Legal Action’s Board of Directors.

SUPERVISION

This position is supervised by Jacob Haller, Reentry Legal Services Program Manager in Milwaukee.

RELOCATION REIMBURSEMENT

Relocation expenses up to $1,200 may be available for reimbursement.

FLEX WORK

Legal Action supports flexible work arrangements that meet the goals of the organization and the employee. All employees are eligible to request flexible work, including flextime, compressed work week, and remote work.

Persons interested in applying for this position must submit the following application materials via Legal Action of Wisconsin’s online applicant portal at:

secure2.entertimeonline.com/ta/7988.careers?ApplyToJob=537036102

Cover letter summarizing qualifications, skills and experience

• Resume
• External applicants only: Three professional references including contact information

Please submit and upload all the documents required. If required documents are not submitted on or before the deadline, your application will be considered incomplete and we will not be able to consider you for this position.

Attorney Jacob Haller, the Reentry Legal Services Program Manager in Milwaukee, is the hiring manager for this position.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: This position will be open until filled. We will review applicants on a rolling basis. To assure early consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible and no later than 5 p.m. on May 19, 2023. Interviews may be conducted remotely.

Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.