Number of Vacancies: 1

Area of Consideration: Open to the Public

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Pay Plan, Series & Grade: DS0095/09

Salary Range: $55,951 - $58,095  ($26.89 - $27.93 hourly)

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Location: 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC  20008
 

Brief Description of Duties

The Paralegal Specialist will assist students and faculty in the David A. Clarke School of Law clinical program with investigative, case-handing and administrative activities associated with representation of individual and group clients and operation of the program. The initial priority for the Paralegal Specialist will be to help expand the clinical program’s capacity to provide comprehensive services to low-income DC seniors. In addition to the essential duties enumerated below, the Paralegal Specialist will work with clinic students and faculty to coordinate appropriate cross-clinic services for senior clients. The Paralegal Specialist will assist the Associate Dean for Clinical & Experiential Programs with administrative, grant reporting and evaluation needs, including but not limited to the development of systems to capture and report relevant data regarding delivery of services to senior clients.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with screening clients for eligibility and initial identification of problem(s)
• Obtain and organize client records and documents
• Help clients complete forms and simple documents
• Provide logistical assistance as needed (e.g., setting up meetings, filing documents with courts or agencies)
• Perform investigative and other information-gathering for case evaluation and preparation
• Provide litigation support, including but not limited to organizing, indexing and digesting discovery documents and depositions, preparing court submissions and assisting with hearing or trial preparation
• Support non-litigation tasks including community education, policy advocacy and transactional work
• Perform administrative tasks to facilitate clinic operations
• Document activities in case management system
• Help maintain client and other clinic files and records
• Help coordinate cross-clinic activities for seniors who may have multiple cases
• Assist with development of system to gather and report data for reports, evaluation and other requirements
• Work with clinic students, faculty and social worker to promote knowledge of legal rights and capacity to advocate on the part of community members and groups

Minimum Job Requirements

• Associate degree preferred or paralegal-specific training and any combination of experience and education
• Computer proficient, including basic databases (e.g., Excel, Access)
• Prior experience working with, and commitment to serving, low-income persons or groups
• Prior paralegal experience in a non-profit environment desirable
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to function effectively as a member of a team
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Fluency in Spanish highly desirable

Information to Applicant

Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFSCME local 2087 and you may be required to pay an agency service fee through direct payroll deduction.

Employment Benefits: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the University of the District of Columbia' s retirement plan (TIAA-CREF).

Equal Opportunity Employer: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.

Notice of Non-Discrimination: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the University of the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability.  Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is also prohibited by the Act.  In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act.  Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated.  Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

Veterans Preference:  Applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit official proof at the time of application.

Residency Preference: The Residency Preference Amendment Act of 1988, D.C. Law 7-203, created a system in which provides that any applicant for employment in the Career or Educational Services who is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia may claim a residency reference at the time of application. An applicant selected for an appointment based on District residency will be required to submit no less than eight (8) proofs of bona fide District residency. Bona fide District residency must be maintained from the date of appointment to the position for seven (7) consecutive years. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the (7) year period will result in forfeiture of employment.

Drug-Free Workplace: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after conviction of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.

Background Investigation: Employment with the University of the District of Columbia is contingent upon a satisfactory background investigation.  The determination of a "satisfactory background investigation" is made at the sole discretion of the University of the District of Columbia.  The University may refuse to hire a finalist, rescind an offer of employment to a finalist or review and may terminate the employment of a current employee based on the results of a background investigation.

Disposition of Resume: Resumes received outside the area of consideration and/or after the closing date will not be given consideration. You must resubmit your resume to receive consideration for any subsequent advertised position vacancies. For the purpose of employment, resumes are not considered job applications. Therefore, if selected for employment a UDC application will be required.

Job Offers: Official Job Offers are made by the University of the District of Columbia, Office of Human Resources Only.

Contact Information:  All inquiries related to employment and job applications should be directed to UDC Office of Human Resources at (202) 274-5380.

The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University’s EO Policy Statement, please visit: http://www.udc.edu/equal opportunity/.