Legal Services for Veterans Project Paralegal Description
Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV) seeks a skilled, motivated Paralegal to join the Legal Services for Veterans Project in our Charleston Office. LAWV offers a great family-friendly work environment and an excellent benefits package which includes medical, dental, and life insurance and paid leave, valued at almost an extra $50,000/year.
As a Legal Services for Veterans Paralegal in the Charleston Office of LAWV, you will primarily work with veterans at risk of homelessness due to housing or economic insecurity. We are providing legal services to veterans within a Medical Legal Partnership, in cooperation with staff at the Huntington VA Clinics in Huntington, Charleston, and Mingo counties, serving at-risk veterans in a 10-county region in southwestern WV. You will need to build relationships and trust with providers and staff as well as with at-risk veterans. You will work with an attorney who will have direct responsibility for providing clients with legal advice and in-court representation, with support from and collaboration with other attorneys and community partners.
The Legal Services for Veterans Project is a new project, providing civil legal services to allow at-risk veterans to maintain housing, eliminate employment obstacles, and secure benefits to which they are entitled. This position includes some travel to Huntington VA Clinics in Cabell and Mingo Counties, as well as to veterans’ outreach events in the 10 southwestern WV counties served by the Huntington VA.
The Charleston office is the largest office in our firm. This position offers a chance to work with a diverse group of advocates and clients on a variety of social justice and poverty issues. While the main office is in Charleston, outdoor enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that we are just a stone’s throw from some of the state’s most beautiful landmarks, including the New River Gorge, Kanawha State Forest, and the Hatfield/McCoy Trail. Additionally, the nearby Elk, Kanawha and Coal Rivers offer some of the best kayaking opportunities. Lovers of the arts and culture can spend their days exploring the Clay Center for the Arts and Science and the Capitol Market, and their nights enjoying a great meal at one of our many local restaurants. And if you are looking to get away for a weekend, Charleston is a few hours from Columbus, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Cincinnati, OH, Lexington, KY and Pittsburgh, PA.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@lawv.net. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. While LAWV anticipates that this project will continue to receive federal funding, this is currently a defined term position that ends on September 30, 2025. LAWV is seeking diverse perspectives and people. EOE Qualified women, minorities, and people with disabilities (including lived recovery experience) are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
Hiring Qualifications:
1. Must have a minimum of a high school diploma and a minimum of 2 years’ experience with and knowledge of substantive legal issues affecting the poor. Demonstrated knowledge of legal principles, legal research methods, legal terminology, court systems and legal procedure highly desirable.
2. Must have skills to use office technologies. Knowledge of office software that includes case management, publications, data analysis and Excel highly desirable.
3. S(he) should have the ability to organize, prioritize, and work independently.
4. Good communication skills, both written and oral are required.
5. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact constructively with diverse populations also required.
6. S(he) must have a working understanding of providing legal services to clients in a multi-site office environment over a broad geographic area.
8. S(he) must have the ability to analyze situations accurately and to adopt an effective course of action and be able to multi-task effectively.
9. S(he) must demonstrate a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently under minimal supervision in a way that encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust and group identity.
10. Experience with project reporting and/or event planning logistics is desirable.
11. Some regional and occasional statewide travel required.
12. Some work outside of normal LAWV work hours.
