Intake Legal Advocate

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

Location

Baltimore, Maryland

Category

Other Staff

Posted

May 20, 2025

Type

Full-Time

Description/Duties

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Baltimore, Maryland Intake Legal Advocate (Full-time, non-exempt) Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), founded in 1981, is the oldest and largest volunteer legal services organization in Maryland. The mission of MVLS is to remove barriers to justice through free civil legal help, community engagement, and advocacy for equitable laws. Our vision is for a fair legal system that is free of injustice and equitably serves underrepresented Marylanders. We achieve this goal primarily through our core pro bono program and more targeted programs that serve specialized legal needs. For more program information, visit our website: www.mvlslaw.org. This position focuses on screening clients for acceptance into the MVLS program and matching them with volunteers.

MVLS’ core values are teamwork, passion for MVLS’ mission, commitment to clients, volunteers, and community partners, initiative and commitment to eliminate systemic barriers to justice based on race and economic disparities. MVLS is committed to fostering an inclusive culture in the workplace. Our work to end barriers to justice starts with increasing the racial diversity of our staff to better reflect the communities we serve.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Provide intake services, primarily through phone intake (3-4 mornings per week), to potential MVLS clients
  • Review applications received through telephone and online intake
  • Screen applicants for income eligibility, case type, and Maryland County of legal dispute
  • Contact volunteers to place eligible client cases
  • Use LegalServer database to manage documents and paperwork associated with cases, e.g., client applications, court documents, financial eligibility documents, important correspondence, and invoices or requests for reimbursement.
  • Develop proficiency using LegalServer database, especially with respect to client and volunteer-related data entry and document management.
  • Troubleshoot client or volunteer disputes and report to the Pro Bono Director and Deputy Director for resolution  Participate in pro bono program outreach and educational activities and MVLS’ special events that may include occasional weekend and evening work  Other administrative duties as assigned

Skills/Qualifications

Skills:

  • Client-centered customer service skills are essential to success in this position.
  • Excellent computer, data entry, and organization skills
  • Must be detail-oriented
  • Must possess ability to deal with difficult callers in crisis
  • Works well with others; a team player  Strong written and oral communication skills essential
  • Spanish language skills a plus (includes a $500 salary increase for Spanish language proficiency)

Experience & Education:

  • 2 years of administrative, customer service, or legal experience
  • 2 years of college or paralegal certificate from accredited institution is a plus
  • Computer and data entry experience required
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of programs, i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel.
  • Demonstrated commitment to underserved communities

Compensation

Compensation & Benefits
Salary range is $45,000 – $55,000 per year commensurate on experience with excellent benefits
including: 2 health insurance plans to choose from (MVLS fully covers the monthly premium for
individual coverage), dental and vision insurance, a flexible spending plan to reimburse
employees with pre-tax dollars for out of pocket medical expenses and eligible child care costs,
group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long term
disability coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% contribution from MVLS, a monthly
commuter stipend equal to the value of an MTA pass, 20 vacation days, 2 personal days,10 sick
days and 14 paid holidays per year.

How To Apply

Submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references from employers or school via
email with “Intake Legal Advocate” in the subject line to mvls@mvlslaw.org by 4 weeks from
when application is posted. Applicants are encouraged to address the core values stated at the top
of this job posting in their cover letters.

Please, no telephone calls.

This application was posted on May 14, 2024. MVLS generally begins scheduling interviews
after the four-week application window has ended. Initial interviews with the hiring committee
are scheduled for 45 minutes. For advancing candidates, a second 60-minute interview is held
with the hiring committee and the Executive Director. Interview questions are provided in advance. Reference checks are made for final candidates. The interview process generally takes
about four weeks.

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