Contract Bilingual Legal Assistant / Intake Specialist – Portland

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is seeking a full-time Legal Assistant / Intake Specialist for a two-year contract in its office in Portland. This position is open due to new grant funding obtained by the office. This position is eligible for a partial remote work option.

Background
LASO is a statewide non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs provide additional services related to farmworker and Native American issues. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program.  We are committed to advocacy and litigation strategies having the broadest possible beneficial impact on problems common in our client’s communities. LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that centers on racial equity. We are committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients.   

The Portland Regional Office of LASO serves a poverty population of more than 220,000. The office serves Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Sherman and Wasco counties, a diverse service area requiring the ability to work effectively with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. The Portland Office has adopted a race equity agenda to guide its work with clients as well as its internal operations. The office has a strong commitment to building an inclusive, diverse workplace.

Responsibilities

•     Answer high volume incoming calls and assist walk-ins.  
•     Screen and schedule potential clients.  
•     Provide detailed referral information.  
•     Identify legal issues.  
•     Meet the clerical needs of a busy law office.  
•     Process incoming and outgoing mail.
•     File client documents internally.
•     Create and destroy client files.
•     Maintain stock of brochures and other self-help legal materials.
•     Other receptionist /office support tasks as needed.

Qualifications
Candidates should be bilingual in English and Spanish, or another language commonly spoken by our client population. Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of experience working in a customer service-oriented call center, law firm, legal clinic, or equivalent environment. The position requires excellent people skills and emotional intelligence. The position also requires the ability and willingness to work as part of an interdisciplinary and interdependent team, to work effectively with trauma survivors, and to spend a majority of hours answering phones. In addition, the ideal candidate should have some computer and technology competence, and word processing skills. We're looking for an organized and efficient person with a cheerful ability to deal with complex office procedures and a high volume of potential clients who may be in crisis and who are usually facing difficult problems.   

Salary/Benefits
Compensation is based on a 35-hour work week. Salary range is $44,200 – 49,700 for 0-5 years’ experience; $50,800 – 55,200 for 6-10 years’ experience and $56,300 - $66,200 for 11-20 years’ experience annually; salaries are determined by relevant work experience and our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Additional compensation of $4,300 to $5,700 is available annually for bilingual ability, depending on proficiency. Full benefits package including individual and family health, vision, and dental insurance coverage; 6% employer retirement contribution; generous paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave; and paid moving expenses.  

Closing Date
Position open until filled. Review of applications to begin on July 1st, 2024.

Applications
Send resume and letter of interest to:
 
Emily Brown-Sitnick

projobs@lasoregon.org
 
Supplemental question
As a part of your letter of interest, please address the following:

LASO is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients. How have your personal background and experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and diversity?

If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Meghan Collins, Director of Administration, at Meghan.Collins@lasoregon.org. 

We celebrate diversity
LASO is committed to being an organization that reflects the communities we serve and is diverse in race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities, work background, experience and education. We believe that the outcome of such diversity is our greatest strength and a matter of basic human fairness. It is to this end that we strongly encourage applications from people of color and people from any other underrepresented and historically marginalized group to apply for this position.

https://lasoregon.org/employment/