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 dedicated person to join our team. This position will initially support the Housing Law Practice Group to provide comprehensive legal services for civil issues in pursuit of LASCO’s mission and priorities in Central Ohio.

In this multifaceted role, responsibilities include collecting and organizing information and documents from clients, intake evaluations to help with case determinations, completing forms for clients, file maintenance, routine correspondence with clients and others, and some general administrative tasks.

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 fast paced, collaborative, team-driven, and goal-based environment? 

You Will:

• Serve as primary support for the daily work needs of attorneys in the Housing Law Practice Group 
• Support all functions related to legal advocacy & litigation support, including but not limited to drafting and filing pleadings, conducting research, discovery, cite-checking and editing and formatting motions and briefing, drafting procedural motions, trial preparation
• Build relationships with clients and usher them through the intake and case acceptance process, working respectfully and effectively with clients who are dealing with high levels of stress
• Collect, organize and manage information and documents from clients
• Support translation of necessary documentation such as identification documents, written statements or similar
• Intake evaluations to help with case determinations
• Conduct client call backs and follow up with clients as needed
• Assist attorneys in assessing client financial situation
• Draft correspondence to clients including routine communications, closing letters and no contact letters among others
• Draft forms for clients among other necessary documentation
• Perform administrative tasks including opening hard files, opening electronic cases, sending intake packets, completing reporting paperwork and other related duties
• Support and collaborate with staff, partners and other related parties to help achieve goals
• Be responsible for some general office work including incoming/outgoing mail, making copies, sending client information 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 or Somali/English bilingual skills are a plus. Additional languages – even better 
• Legal authorization to work in the United States 
• Paralegal degree or certificate, Bachelor’s degree 
• 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 full-time position is based in Columbus, Ohio and reports to the Managing Attorney.

Salary begins at $40,000 DOE and LASCO offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package, paid time off, and ongoing training and development opportunities.

To Apply:

Submit resume, references 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.