The Paralegal provides high quality legal and administrative support to attorneys in divorce and custody cases throughout the Clinic and supports the Legal Clinic Director as needed.  The Paralegal performs legal research and drafts pleadings and discovery for the attorneys.  The Paralegal also conducts intakes and provides legal information, referrals, safety planning and advocacy to victims of intimate partner violence. The Paralegal provides referrals to social services, housing and shelter assistance, mental health care services, and other crisis intervention services.  The Paralegal participates in the identification of systemic obstacles for victims of intimate partner violence, and assists in formulating a plan and strategies for the removal of those obstacles.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide litigation support to the divorce and custody attorneys in all phases of litigation, including but not limited to the following:
      Conduct legal research and writing;
      Draft correspondence, pleadings, motions and discovery;
      File pleadings on behalf of the attorneys and coordinate service of process in all cases;
      Draft and serve subpoenas;
      Communicate with clients as requested by the attorneys, including but not limited to working with clients to provide discovery responses or prepare for court;
     Maintain the divorce and custody litigation calendar, including calendaring of court dates, litigation deadlines and discovery deadlines.
• Correspond with agencies to retrieve information needed to effectively assist and represent victims of intimate partner violence.
• Conduct intakes and provide legal information, referrals, and advocacy to victims of intimate partner violence.
• Conduct a lethality assessment and help every client create an individualized safety plan.
• Travel to all House of Ruth offices to assist attorneys by conducting intakes, answering phones, and other duties as assigned.
• Maintain and organize case files and record-keeping files.
• Perform administrative duties for the Clinic Director including but not limited to the following:
         Legislative effort support;  
         Retrieve and formulate reporting data from staff;
         Maintain HRM storage filing system;
• Perform conflict checks.
• Provide clerical and administrative backup to Legal Secretary and courthouse offices.
• Accompany clients to court for civil and criminal proceedings.
• Complete requirements of all grants, including written reports in a timely manner.
• Assist in developing and editing written material to convey information on domestic violence and family law issues.
• Conduct follow-up surveys and research inquiries regarding efficacy of representation service.
• Assist in fundraising efforts as needed.
• Assist in recruiting and training staff, volunteers and interns and other agencies as requested.
• Perform community outreach and training as needed, including on weekend and evenings.
• Develop and maintain liaisons with community, criminal justice system and other agencies that assist victims of intimate partner violence.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience/Requirements:

• Paralegal degree or equivalent experience. 
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills and ability to assist and advocate on behalf of victims of intimate partner violence in various environments. 
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds, including clients, House of Ruth staff, and members of the community. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks at one time. 
• Computer literate (MS Word, internet, email). 
• Ability to travel to HRM offices and courthouse. 
• Ability and willingness to implement management decisions which s/he has not participated in making.  Ability to function with limited supervision.
• Demonstrates knowledge of paralegal practices and procedures by completing tasks and performing legal research and writing assigned correctly and on a timely basis.
• Demonstrates knowledge of domestic violence and domestic law by conducting and attending trainings.
• Ability to meet intake goals as set by the Clinic Director.
• Ability to formulate, plan and organize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to advocate on behalf of victims of intimate partner violence in various environments.
• Ability to master information technology by accurately inputting and retrieving information from the computer for data entry, word processing, e-mailing, and other functions in a timely manner.
• Ability to complete requirements of all grants, including written reports in a timely manner.
• Ability to meet outreach goals as set by the Clinic Director.
• Demonstrates ability to work in a fast-paced environment by meeting goals and objectives as set by the Clinic Director.
• Ability to perform other duties as assigned by the Clinic Director.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.