Paralegal II

Health Law Unit

DATE: 3/3/08
UNION STATUS: 1199
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Civil Health Law Unit
JOB CODE: P2120E
REPORTS TO: Supervising Attorney
FULL/PART TIME: FT
LOCATION: 199 Water Street

Major Purpose of Position

The Legal Aid Society has a Paralegal II position available in the city-wide Health Law Unit. The candidate will be supervised by the Supervising Attorney of the Health Law Unit.

The Health Law Unit provides direct legal services to health care consumers and beneficiaries from all five boroughs of New York City. The Health Law Unit also operates a state-wide Health Law Helpline. The unit assists clients with the following health related issues: Medicaid; Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, Medicare; managed care; denials of health care benefits and services; access to care and insurance for the uninsured; and immigrant access to health care. Many of the Unit’s clients are immigrants, people with disabilities, and often have limited proficiency in English. The City-wide Health Law Unit provides technical assistance and training to community based organizations which serve diverse clients who may not otherwise easily access legal services. The Unit often works with health care providers and hospitals in order to improve access to care. Finally, the Health Law Unit is actively involved in developing City and State health care policy and in affirmative litigation.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

  • Client representation in administrative hearings
  • Advocacy with health insurance plans, City, State and federal agencies
  • Assisting the attorneys with client representation in State and federal court proceedings and affirmative litigation
  • Training and providing technical assistance to beneficiaries, local community based organizations and health care providers
  • Policy advocacy on behalf of clients
  • Handling a high volume of individual cases and responding to the needs of community based organizations
  • The position may require off-site work and evening hours

Secondary Duties/Responsibilities

  • Other duties as assigned

Training And Qualifications

  • Paralegal certificate from an accredited school, Bachelor’s degree in relevant field or satisfactory completion of a comprehensive in-house training course appropriate to practice area
  • Strong writing, verbal, organization, and computer skills
  • Commitment to protecting the rights of low-income clients
  • Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people is strongly desired
  • Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required
  • The position may require off-site work and evening hours

To Apply:

Please e-mail cover letter and resume and writing sample to KAMohamed@legal-aid.org with the subject line "PARA II - CHLU"

The Legal Aid Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Women, People of Color, Gays and Lesbians, Transgender People, Veterans and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.