Description

Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO)’s mission is to provide civil legal aid and advocacy to overcome unfairness and injustice, reduce poverty, and increase opportunity. LASCO is the new name for two long-standing legal aid programs, The Legal Aid Society of Columbus and Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, which merged in January 2024. The programs have been affiliated for more than a decade, and this legal merger is just the culmination of many years of collaboration and growing efficiencies between our two direct service programs.

LASCO is actively seeking a professional, reliable and engaging Legal Secretary to support our growing team as well as foster a welcoming, efficient and comfortable office space.

In this multifaceted role, you will serve as the first point of contact for visitors and clients; answer incoming calls and screen for eligibility; and provide high-quality administrative and clerical support.

Are You Someone Who:

• Has interest in and sensitivity to the legal needs of low-income individuals?
• Is motivated, professional and customer service focused?
• Can communicate verbally with a wide range of people?
• Takes pride in excellent attention to detail when producing documents and other work?
• Is agile and able to respond effectively to the changing needs of a growing organization?
• Creates processes to increase work efficiencies and systems to work smarter not harder?
• Is open to participating in community events?
• Works well within in a collaborative, team-driven, and goal-based environment?

You Will:

• Serve as front office receptionist including answering phone calls, greeting guests, interacting with vendors and maintaining a welcoming office environment
• Directly support the client intake process through answering phones calls, accurately recording necessary information and entering data into the intake system
• Coordinate office supplies, kitchen inventory, catering requests, and conference room scheduling/set-up
• Support and collaborate with all staff to help achieve goals
• Be responsible for general office work including incoming/outgoing mail, making copies, sending client information and other similar tasks
• Operates office machines and uses office technology necessary to complete assignments, learns to operate all new or updated machines and technology, and uses the most efficient equipment and technology available to the office to timely complete work assignments
• Timely completes and submits required work-related forms and reports
• Appropriately sets reminders and performs court filings and other similar tasks

Requirements

You Have:

• A positive attitude, go-getter mindset and drive to do things well
• Professional experience in customer service
• Ability to anticipate needs and navigate problems with a creative, practical approach toward reaching successful resolution
• The ability to prioritize workload to manage time and tasks in a dynamic environment
• Proficient skills across the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, effectively with diverse audiences
• Strong work ethic with an eye for detail
• High ability to exercise sound judgement and discretion
• English language proficiency is essential and Spanish/English bilingual skills are a plus. Additional languages – even better
• Legal authorization to work in the United States
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Prior Legal Aid or related work experience a plus, but not required

Other Details:

• LASCO ’s clientele is diverse, and all of our clients are low income. To ensure that our program is best serving our communities, LASCO strives to promote an evolving set of behaviors and attitudes amongst our staff, as well as policies that enable us to work effectively in all cross-cultural situations, with clients, with our coworkers, and with the community. We see this as a commitment to enhance the provision of our services to all clients; to raise the level of positive client outcomes; and to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued.
• It is the policy of LASCO not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, and military status or any other characteristic protected by law.
• This regular full-time position is based in Athens, Ohio and reports to the Managing Attorney.
• Wages start at $17.31 per hour depending on experience and LASCO offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package, paid time off, and ongoing training and development opportunities.

To Apply:

Submit resume and letter of interest.

To promote social justice and best serve our clients, LASCO is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and providing culturally competent services. We strongly encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities and historically oppressed groups including BIPOC, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals to apply. Bilingual/bicultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.