Save Your Home Philly Hotline Paralegal

Full-Time Position

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) seeks to immediately hire a full-time paralegal to work with low-income Philadelphia residents in danger of losing their homes.

PLA provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in Philadelphia. For Philadelphia residents who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, our legal assistance is often crucial to protecting their homes, their children, their safety, and their livelihood.

Join a tight-knit and committed team of paralegals who operate the "Save Your Home Philly" Hotline, a central point of contact for Philadelphia homeowners at risk of losing their homes. Supervised by an experienced home ownership attorney, the Save Your Home Philly Hotline paralegals respond to calls and inquiries from homeowners with a variety of legal issues: those behind on their mortgage or real estate tax payments, those with a need to prove ownership through probate or another quiet title action, those that are at risk of immediate sheriff sale of their home, and those that can access mortgage payment assistance programs.

The Hotline staff work in close collaboration with attorneys and paralegals in PLA's Consumer Housing Unit, as well as Community Legal Services, Philadelphia VIP, and a network of housing counselors to assist homeowners in navigating the legal system, understanding and safeguarding their rights, and avoiding homelessness. The Hotline is a critical piece of the network of services available in Philadelphia for low-income homeowners to preserve neighborhood and family stability.

• Paralegals can expect to have a variety of responsibilities as part of a team of advocates, including:
• Interviewing and advising clients faced with mortgage and tax problems
• Interviewing and advising clients with "tangled titles", or claims to home ownership without having a record deed in their name
• Interviewing and advising clients about wills and estate planning
• Evaluating a client’s situation and making appropriate referrals
• Advocating for clients with mortgage companies and taxing authorities in writing as well as over the phone
• Helping clients navigate City assistance programs
• Researching, understanding and utilizing statutes, regulations and city ordinances
• Coordinating and managing case referrals
• Tracking policy developments and disseminating new information to other paralegals on the team
• Conducting outreach with other community organizations on housing issues

Working at PLA is a hands-on, skill-building experience. No prior legal experience or knowledge of housing or consumer law is necessary. A successful candidate will be a compassionate listener, like problem solving, enjoy helping others, and value a collegial workplace centered on service.

• Two-or four-year college degree
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Commitment to improving the well‑being of low-income communities
• Compassion, understanding, patience and a talent for working cooperatively with a broad spectrum of people
• The ability to work effectively under stress with clients in high‑stress states
• Maturity, self‑motivation, and ability to adapt quickly
• Strong time management and organization skills, and ability to manage a client caseload
• A sincere and strong commitment to helping others
• Prior work or volunteer experience at a non‑profit serving low-income clients is preferred
• Spanish or other language fluency a plus
• Computer literacy, including the ability to learn and navigate between online databases

This is a union position. Salary is dependent upon experience, starting at $48,350. PLA offers a generous benefits package in addition to salary: health insurance premiums paid in full for employee and family; cash incentives for health insurance opt out; vacation, personal, and sick leave; thirteen (13) paid holidays; 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution; life insurance; and short- and long-term disability benefits.

PLA’s office is at 718 Arch Street in Philadelphia. Staff may request to work from home up to 3 days per week.

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply. PLA does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, PLA complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.