Paralegal - Eviction Defense Project

Bet Tzedek Legal Services has provided high-quality, free legal services to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents for nearly 50 years. They are seeking a paralegal to join their Eviction Defense Project, which aims to eliminate homelessness by providing litigation-based direct services to tenants facing eviction or rental disputes.

Responsibilities

• Support a high-volume caseload that includes client interviews and delivering advice and counsel in eviction defense and landlord-tenant matters under the supervision of an attorney
• Support attorneys with discovery, including preparation of discovery requests and discovery responses, and coordinating depositions
• Draft motions and other pleadings to be served and filed with the court and prepare trial binders and exhibit binders, under the supervision of an attorney
• Maintain well-organized digital case files and accurate case statistics
• Assist with outreach and education efforts, including delivering "Know Your Rights" presentations
• Assist with administrative and clerical duties such as communicating with clients, calendaring, e-filing, and opening and closing digital case files
• Other assignments as deemed appropriate

Skills

• A paralegal certificate/degree in paralegal studies from an ABA-approved institution OR bachelor's degree and at least 1 year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the California bar for the preceding 3 years (required); OR a high school diploma or GED plus at least 3 years of law-related experience, under the supervision of a Qualifying Supervisor, and a written declaration from the Qualifying Supervisor stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks
• Experience in state court systems, including state court e-filing systems (required)
• Thorough knowledge of legal terminology, court rules, and procedures (required)
• Proficiency with the Internet and Web-based applications (required)
• Demonstrated commitment to Bet Tzedek's mission to provide free legal services to those who need them most (required)
• Demonstrated commitment to applying principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in performance of job duties (required)
• Bilingual and biliterate in both English and Spanish (highly preferred)
• MS Office and legal database (Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, Legal Server, NetDocs, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, OneLegal) proficiency (highly preferred)
• At least 2 years of law firm experience supporting multiple attorneys (preferred)
• Knowledge and experience in landlord-tenant law, eviction defense, or similar practice areas related to housing or homelessness (preferred)

Benefits

• A generous number of paid holidays, vacation, and sick days annually.
• Personal and floating holidays
• Compensatory time for exempt employees.
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave (after 1 year of employment).
• Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.
• Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
• Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.
• Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
• Employer-contributed Pension plan.
• Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.

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