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Form of workJob Description
RECEPTIONIST
ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income clients in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, small satellite offices and a business office in Rochester.
LawNY® has been providing high quality legal representation for 55 years, and today has approximately 180 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, and a legal support team who work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing legal issues affecting our clients and community.
LawNY® is committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture. We are increasingly committed to creating a law firm where race equity, diversity and cultural competency are integral components of our work, from client advocacy to internal operations.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Bath Office of LawNY has an opening for a Receptionist position. The Bath Office staff currently includes 18 staff members who work together as a team to provide civil legal services to low-income clients in Steuben and Allegany Counties. The primary areas of practice are housing (including landlord-tenant and foreclosure prevention), public benefits, disability benefits, family law and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Special projects include a medical-legal partnership with the Bath Veterans Administration Medical Center. The receptionist is charged with being the first person a client or visitor comes in contact with and gives the impression of the office. Therefore, they should have an empathetic and friendly attitude toward the client, potential client, or visitor.
RESPONSIBILITIES These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.
- Greets clients and visitors in a welcoming and professional manner.
- Answers incoming telephone calls and takes accurate telephone messages.
- Schedules appointments in conformity with office procedures.
- Maintains a basic knowledge of the local resources and Social Services agencies available in the community, makes referrals where appropriate, and maintains a system for storing contact information for local organizations and resources available.
- Provides legal information, self-help pamphlets, brochures, and flyers for other resources, over the telephone, in person and through mail to applicants.
- Develops and maintains knowledge of the income and eligibility guidelines; established legal priorities of the program; and intake process of the office/project.
- Takes application information over the telephone and/or in-person; screens and interviews applicants for assistance; and enters information into the case management database system according to intake manual protocol
- Ensures that applications are correct and complete and forwards copies of intake files to appropriate office staff.
- Keeps mindful of the need for confidentiality of matters concerning clients, both within and outside of the office.
- Mailing, faxing, collating, copying, scanning and other general office administrative duties.
- Performs surveys, including intake, community and client surveys, as directed by supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS These are the basic requirements for the position.
- High School Diploma or equivalent, Associate’s degree, or relevant work/life experience is required.
- Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to helping low-income and disadvantaged people overcome institutional barriers to legal services.
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and writing skills.
- Experience with data management and use of Google Workspace and Microsoft Suite.
ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities. LawNY® encourages each candidate to think about their own personal knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as professional skills and experience in relation to this list.
- Familiarity with the office service area.
- Prior experience with low-income and other oppressed communities and clients.
- Lived experience with our client communities is highly desired.
- Strong problem-solving abilities, time management, and organizational skills.
- Excellent use of Google Workspace, Word, and Excel; database programs a plus.
- Proficiency in Spanish is an advantage but is not required.
- Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of LawNY.
COMPENSATION Salary is dependent on experience and based on a pay scale with annual increments. The entry level salary (with no prior work experience) for a Receptionist is $30,940 increasing to $34,940 for a Receptionist with five years’ prior work experience. LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including: LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including 94% employer paid health insurance with significant HSA contributions, 100% employer paid dental and disability insurance, vision coverage, and $50,000 automatic life insurance as well as generous leave provisions including, in the first year of employment, 20 days of vacation plus 13.5 holidays and two floating holidays. Employees also receive 12 sick days and five personal days per year. New parents receive 20 days of paid new parent leave.
LawNY® is committed to providing a work-life balance to their employees. We encourage and support a 35 hour work week to ensure our employees have this balance.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform, found here and at www.lawny.org/Employment. When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe unpaid volunteer/internships as such.
To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think that your lived and/or professional experience or background has prepared you to contribute to support a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion at LawNY®.
Questions or Accommodations? Contact Ellen Heidrick at eheidrick@lawny.org
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer. LawNY® strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups whose background may contribute to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. LawNY® welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.
