Housing Law Paralegal / Outreach Worker – Portland Regional Office

The Portland Regional Office of Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is seeking a full-time Housing Law Paralegal / Outreach Worker to support the work of the Portland office’s Anti-Displacement Project (which includes partnerships with Self Enhancement, Inc., Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Native American Youth Association, Don’t Shoot PDX, and Rockwood Initiative) and a Fair Housing partnership with Urban League, El Programa Hispano Catolico, and Fair Housing Council of Oregon.

Background
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs focused on services to farmworkers and on issues impacting Native Americans. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program that is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on client community problems.

The Portland Regional Office of LASO serves a poverty population of more than 220,000. The office serves Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Sherman and Wasco counties, a diverse service area requiring the ability to work effectively with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. The Portland Office has adopted a race equity agenda to guide its work with clients as well as its internal operations. The office has a strong commitment to building an inclusive, diverse workplace.

Responsibilities
The duties of the Housing Law Paralegal / Outreach Worker include coordinating and providing trainings to community-based organizations that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and immigrant communities on issues related to Fair Housing, gentrification, and displacement; identifying legal issues important to those communities; and conducting client interviews and consultations (by phone and in-person). In addition, this position will support the legal work and impact litigation in the office.

Qualifications
Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable populations. Enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and willingness to work collaboratively.
Demonstrated understanding and commitment to anti-bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression. LASO has a hiring preference for candidates who are bilingual in Spanish and / or another language.

Salary/Benefits
Compensation is based on a 35-hour work week. Salary range is $46.2K – 52.2K for 0-5 years’ experience; $53.4K - 58.2K for 6-10 years’ experience and $59.4K-70.2K for 11-20 years’ experience annually; salaries are determined by relevant work experience and our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Additional $4.3K annually for bilingual ability. Full benefits package including individual and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage; 6% employer retirement contribution; generous paid holidays, vacation and sick leave; and paid moving expenses. 
 
Closing Date
Review of resumes to begin September 4, 2023.

Applications
Send resume and letter of interest to:
projobs@lasoregon.org  

As a part of your letter of interest, please address the following:
LASO PRO is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients. Please address how your personal background and experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and diversity.

Please note – we will only review applications received via email and will not download applications submitted or recommended from employment platforms.

If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Meghan Collins, Director of Administration, at Meghan.Collins@lasoregon.org. 

We celebrate diversity
LASO is committed to being an organization that reflects the communities we serve and is diverse in race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities, work background, experience and education. We believe that the outcome of such diversity is our greatest strength and a matter of basic human fairness. It is to this end that we strongly encourage applications from people of color; people from any other underrepresented and historically marginalized group; people who have experienced economic, social, or other barriers; people who have personally experienced discrimination or oppression; or can otherwise demonstrate a commitment to advancing our diversity mission.