Legal Assistant

The Legal Aid Justice Center is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization dedicated to fighting for racial, social, and economic justice for low-income clients and communities of color in Virginia. The Legal Assistant-Client Advocate role is essential for day-to-day operations, focusing on client communication, case management, and administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the office. Responsibilities Communicate with clients to define and clarify our mission and services to help create a collaborative environment in which community, staff and volunteers are informed an up to date Handle all aspects of community contact in an efficient and professional manner including answering the phone; listening to voicemails; documenting initial contacts; conducting intakes, providing referrals, utilizing our legal database, supporting emergency triage and receiving client documents Enter all prescreen/intake and relevant client data and documents into Legal Server Communicate with community members with an equity and social justice lens to assess needs and coordinate essential services Conduct intakes with potential clients, which includes initial fact gathering, reviewing eligibility information, ensuring accuracy in databases and files, and gather documents to support building a case Oversee all front desk-related activities including directing visitors and handling administrative tasks, maintaining the reception area, and other tasks to ensure efficient operations Provide accurate fast-paced data entry and file maintenance Other administrative tasks may include but are not limited to: preparing and providing materials and information for client cases and other legal issues and assist with paper and electronic filing; communicating pre-approved advice, updates, or legal information from lawyers to clients; providing backup for other offices as needs arise; assisting with communications with clients and community partners, preparing documents for attorneys Provide legal assistant experience through a cultural humility and trauma informed lens Demonstrate respectful, professional, and timely written and verbal communication, during all internal and external interactions Together with the team: provide referrals and maintain lists of resources for clients in relevant subject areas; supervise and onboard interns and volunteers; track changes and trends in community requests and needs Organize and maintain confidential documents and files and perform assigned administrative tasks to support office functions and safeguard compliance with relevant laws and regulations Support community and volunteer engagement – be visible, greet and support community members and train admin volunteers; provide customer service by phone and in person; and keep community and volunteers informed and connected with services, organizers, and resources Define and clarify the Legal Assistant/Client Advocate role for community and staff by answering questions; shadowing; and attending meetings; and by keeping a presence at the reception desk and common areas when needed Act as a referral specialist by building connections with local partner agencies and community organizations and implementing new referrals Engage in special projects with attorneys, organizers, and other teams including extended trips in the field, outreach tabling, correspondence, mailings, events coordination, and other activities Provide support to other offices as needed. This could include in-person support for the Petersburg office Other duties as assigned Promote racial equity across all dimensions, including within LAJC, by doing the following: Helping to recruit, retain, and support both staff and leadership that reflect the racial composition of our community; Cultivating respect for the work and expanding resources for non-attorney staff that are disproportionately people of color; Creating spaces for staff to discuss issues of racial, gender, and all other issues of marginalization; and Pushing for institutional and cultural changes by management, the board, and staff to further promote racial equity Skills Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial justice Self-starter, excited and passionate about client and community experiences Spanish Fluency Proficient in MS Office applications, including Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook Ability to learn and effectively utilize case management systems such as Legal Server Analytical thinker with excellent conceptual Demonstrated organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to multitask in a high pace environment Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines Ability to work independently and as part of a team 2+ years as a legal assistant or closely related customer service experience in a law office or similar setting Experience in Spanish/English translation in a law office or similar setting Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations with tact, professionalism, and diplomacy Skills in professional email, verbal etiquette, and effective communication Ability to provide a fully bilingual, English/Spanish, Legal Assistant experience through a cultural awareness and trauma informed lens Benefits Generous paid time off every year, including 3 to 6 weeks of vacation, 12 days of health leave, 16 weeks parental leave, and 14 holidays (not including bonus holidays/rest days allocated as needed) 100% employer paid health, dental, and vision insurance, plus excellent family insurance with annual max of $2,400 premium contribution to LAJC-sponsored health plan 403(b) retirement plan with 4% employer contribution (no required match) Strong commitment to professional development Company Overview The Legal Aid Justice Center partners with clients to achieve justice by dismantling systems that create and perpetuate poverty. It was founded in 1965, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, with a workforce of 51-200 employees. Its website is