POSITION: Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) is seeking a Paralegal to assist our Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) team in Washtenaw County with our anti-poverty advocacy work. Through a partnership with the Ypsilanti Health Clinic and Michigan Medicine, the Paralegal will assist the MLP lead attorney with projects and advocacy that aim to improve social determinants of health and increase access to justice by meeting Ypsilanti Health Clinic patients with civil legal needs where they are, in various community settings. The Paralegal will be based in our office in downtown Ypsilanti and may be expected to attend meetings at the Ypsilanti Health Center, school meetings, hearings, clinics, and community events throughout Washtenaw County, which may or may not be virtual. The Paralegal will also be responsible for completing intakes, tracking data, coordinating with doctors and social workers, and other administrative tasks for the MLP.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: LSSCM is a division of the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP). MAP works to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions. MAP has provided civil legal aid for those unable to afford an attorney for more than 50 years. Today, Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) has five legal aid offices in south and central Michigan serving 13 counties with an emphasis on homelessness prevention, domestic violence and elder abuse prevention, and assistance in accessing health care, food, and needs-based income programs. Visit www.miadvocacy.org and www.lsscm.org for more information.
The Ypsilanti Health Center-Legal Services of South Central Michigan Medical-Legal Partnership (YHC-LSSCM MLP) embeds legal professionals directly into clinical healthcare settings to address health-harming social and legal needs. The program integrates civil legal aid into patient care to tackle social determinants of health - such as housing instability, unsafe living conditions (like mold), public benefits access, and special education challenges. LSCCM provides a range of services, from advice and referrals, to full representation of clients in court hearings, administrative hearings, and by filing state complaints.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Client intakes and case investigations, including possible home-visits to MLP clients.
- Casework support, including preparing correspondence and routine legal filings, conducting legal and factual research, drafting memos, and assisting with discovery and trial preparation
- Representation of clients at administrative hearings and school meetings.
- Providing resources and referral information to the public, including creating community legal education materials.
- Serving as our liaison with courts, medical staff, community partners, and volunteers.
- Administrative support, including tracking data for evaluation and grant reporting.
QUALIFICATIONS: Either a paralegal studies certificate or degree, some college, or at least 3 years of relevant post-high-school work experience, is required. The ideal candidate must be able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with people from a wide range of backgrounds, and must demonstrate a commitment to serving low-income and underserved communities with patience, empathy, and sensitivity. Relevant life experience is a plus. We are a collegial and collaborative office, seeking a colleague with strong interpersonal, organizational, time-management, and computer skills, who demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the civil legal system, especially as it affects our clients, and shares our goal of using legal advocacy to effect systemic change.
BENEFITS: Starting salary is from $48,709, depending on experience. MAP offers a generous benefits package including life, short and long term disability, health, vision, dental and flexible spending accounts. If an applicant does not require health benefits, they have the option to take an annual $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary paid over the course of the year. MAP also has a generous leave policy allowing staff to accrue 3 weeks paid vacation the first year and 15 paid holidays, as well as a 401K retirement plan including employer match for eligible staff after 6 months of employment. MAP is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. MAP is a unionized program.
TO APPLY: Please complete this application and submit your resume and cover letter. You can also access the application by copying and pasting the following web address into your browser: https://miadvocacy.bamboohr.com/careers/319. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
The Michigan Advocacy Program is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.