Organization:
Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC) is a nonprofit law center that provides free legal representation to victims of rape and sexual assault in Massachusetts and Oregon and national training and support for lawyers and advocates on the civil legal needs of rape and sexual assault victims. VRLC’s mission is to provide legal representation to survivors of sexual violence to help rebuild their lives; and to promote a national movement committed to seeking justice for every rape and sexual assault victim.
All applicants must support VRLC’s mission and philosophy regarding our commitment to improving the response to sexual violence, empowerment, and inclusiveness. This position will be filled by someone with a strong work ethic, a passion for mission-driven work, and a commitment to addressing the needs of marginalized communities.
VRLC strives to build and strengthen a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities and professionals we serve. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. People of color, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, survivors, immigrants, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. VRLC will gladly assist applicants in need of accommodation. For assistance, contact humanresources@victimrights.org.
Description:
The Intake Specialist/Paralegal is the first contact clients have with VRLC. The specialist will conduct phone screenings with sexual assault survivors seeking legal assistance, provide support to attorneys representing sexual assault survivors, draft grant reports, and conduct outreach events with community partner
Responsibilities:
- Conduct initial phone screenings with sexual assault survivors seeking civil legal assistance and/or criminal justice advocacy in Massachusetts
- Assess potential clients for eligibility for services and provide referrals
- Assist attorneys with legal casework and other administrative tasks related to direct client representation such as:
- Drafting client correspondence
- Using DocuSign to secure client signatures on legal documents
- Requesting audio recordings of court hearings
- Drafting and filing court pleadings
- Conducting legal research using LexisNexis
- Drafting legal memoranda as assigned, and
- Compiling reporting data for state and federal funding
- Assist clients in gathering assault-related information and documents for their legal cases in the areas of housing, education law, employment, immigration, privacy hearings, protection orders, benefits, and victim compensation
- Draft federal and state grant reports
- Work collaboratively with the direct services team focused on meeting the legal needs of survivors
- Attend outreach events, meetings, and trainings virtually and throughout the Commonwealth related to addressing sexual violence to build relationships with organizations working with survivors in Massachusetts
- Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Highly motivated, organized, and able to handle several tasks at once
- Attention to detail and follow-through
- Fluency in Spanish
Preferred Qualifications:
- B.A./B.S. and/or relevant work experience
- Experience working with trauma survivors and/or underserved communities
- Experience working in a law office
