Paralegal- Public Justice Center 2023-2024

The Public Justice Center works with people and communities to confront the laws, practices, and institutions that cause injustice, poverty, and discrimination. We advocate in the courts, legislatures, and government agencies, educate the public, and build coalitions, all to advance our mission of pursuing systemic change to build a just society. Current focus areas include tenants, workers, health care, education, public benefits, and creating a right to counsel in civil cases.

Our Education Stability Project advances racial equity in public education by combatting the use of exclusionary school discipline practices, like suspension, expulsion, and school policing, that disproportionately target Black and brown children and push students out of school. We also seek to eliminate barriers to school enrollment and success confronting homeless children and children in foster care.

The Volunteer will be a paralegal for the Education Stability Project conducting client intake for students who are facing suspension, expulsion, and other forms of school pushout. The Volunteer will conduct intake interviews with potential clients, otherwise support client representation, and conduct community-based outreach. The Volunteer will be an integral part of the legal team, working with attorneys to further our social justice goals.

• Conduct telephone intakes, interview clients, open and maintain electronic and paper case files, participate in fact gathering and appropriate referral, brief service, or advocacy. 

• Assist attorneys with community outreach and litigation support including case investigation, researching public records, drafting documents, assisting in document review and document management, and data entry and reporting. 

• Provide general administrative and office support for our nonprofit law office. Responsible for receiving, handling, and monitoring support requests from staff. 

• Assist with special advocacy and research projects on prioritized subjects.