CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse) is seeking a Legal Assistant to work on-site at its community office, providing essential support to the legal team, which includes attorneys and advocates. This role involves coordinating services across departments and offering limited direct legal assistance to survivors of intimate partner domestic violence. Unlike the Legal Advocate position, which involves significant direct legal services such as conducting full client intakes, assisting with legal documents, and accompanying clients to court and mediation, the Legal Assistant will focus primarily on supporting the legal team's efforts within the organization.

about CORA - Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse

As the only agency in San Mateo County with the sole purpose of serving those experiencing intimate partner abuse, CORA provides safety, support and healing. CORA’s comprehensive services include a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, emergency shelter options, legal services and family-centered mental health therapy. In addition, CORA provides community education and prevention programming throughout the county. CORA is a multicultural agency committed to serving individuals, regardless of age, ethnicity/race, financial status, language, sexual orientation, immigration status, class, religion, gender, gender expression, mental or physical ability.

Qualifications

Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Experience with legal systems and systems advocacy. Experience with family law and criminal law preferred.
Ability to comprehend and analyze legal information, including statutes, and to explain it in an understandable way.
Completion of 40-hour domestic violence training. Candidates who have not completed the 40-hour training will be required to do so and will be provided by CORA.
Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Social Work, Psychology, or a related field. Additional degrees or relevant certifications are preferred. Candidates with a high school diploma or equivalent and significant work experience in domestic violence services, crisis intervention, and community engagement may be considered in lieu of the AA degree.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/ PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid CA Driver’s license, insurance and ability to drive own vehicle for work purposes to travel within San Mateo County.
Successful results from a criminal background check, including fingerprinting clearance from the Department of Justice.
Eligibility to work in the United States.

Responsibilies

Administrative Support:
- Support legal team with litigation case management, including: opening and closing case files, completing Judicial Council forms, drafting correspondence, filing documents, and serving legal documents by mail.
- Regularly enter accurate case notes into the agency’s database – EmpowerDB – and update other trackers and data as needed.
- Provide clear and exact translations of written materials and interpretation of verbal communication in Spanish and English.
- Maintain the confidentiality of client, staff, volunteer, and agency information.
- Provide front office reception coverage for the receptionist’s lunch break or when they are out of the office (legal department is assigned one day per week).
- Coordinate assignments of legal volunteers and work with legal department staff to ensure volunteers are trained and supported in their work with CORA legal program.
Client Support:
- Ensure timely completion of interviews, intakes, and assessments for clients seeking legal services.
- Conduct initial intakes and provide supportive services including basic legal information and referrals to clients in-person and via telephone.
- Schedule meetings and coordinate delivery and receipt of client documents.
- Engage in client-specific advocacy to meet identified client needs, such as contact with other service providers, law enforcement, etc.
- Work closely with other CORA departments in order to best serve clients and the community.