Part-Time Legal Assistant - Successions, Wills & Estates The New Orleans ProBono Project New Orleans, LA Job Details Part-time | Contract From $25 an hour 1 day ago Benefits Free parking Paid holidays Qualifications Spanish Customer communication In-person customer service English Organizational skills Legal case management Office experience Full Job Description The Pro Bono Project's mission is to provide free, quality civil legal help to the underserved by engaging volunteer lawyers to render pro bono services. Founded in 1986, The Project currently serves Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Washington parishes. The Pro Bono Project recruits, trains and mentors volunteer attorneys on a wide variety of civil legal aid matters, including successions, advance directives, divorce, provisional custody by mandate, child in need of care, public benefits, immigration, housing, bankruptcy and consumer cases. Low-income clients who meet financial and legal eligibility requirements are matched with a volunteer lawyer who provides them with pro bono representation. The pro bono mentoring method of providing technical subject matter expertise to volunteer lawyers is an efficient approach for the private bar to positively contribute to their community. The Project's panel of approximately 1,800 volunteer attorneys represents an extensive and diverse pool of legal expertise, creating the opportunity for The Project to respond to a diverse array of legal problems. The Project has created programs and clinics for specialized populations in need of free legal advice and currently manages the Self-Help Resource Center at Orleans Parish Civil District Court (CDC), where pro se litigants seek assistance with filing petitions on family law matters (i.e., divorce, custody, etc.).

Legal Assistant Job Description:

The Pro Bono Project is seeking a Legal Assistant for our Successions, Wills & Estates program. This is a part-time, 12-month position funded through a grant, and employment beyond the grant period is contingent upon continued funding. This staff member will assist our staff attorneys and volunteers in helping clients draft and execute wills, powers of attorney, small successions affidavits, and judicial successions. They will review client applications and questionnaires, interview clients and other parties to the case, review vital records and land records, take detailed notes, keep meticulous records, communicate with financial institutions, insurance companies, and government programs as needed to support the client, and draft pleadings, advice letters, and letters to third parties. The Legal Assistant will file legal documents with the clerk of courts office and land records offices in various parishes, under the supervision of the staff attorney. They will work with staff and volunteers to coordinate notarization clinics and individual signing appointments where clients will meet with attorneys to finalize their legal documents. Candidates must have excellent organizational skills, high-level written and oral communication skills, and good technology skills. The ability to communicate effectively with team members, keep detailed records, maintain strict client confidentiality, and provide consistently excellent customer service to clients and volunteers is a must. The ideal candidate will have experience with client interviewing and case management, with in-person and electronic filing, and with procedural practices in Louisiana state court. Experience in a legal aid or non-profit work environment is a plus. Experience in successions, wills & estates, and family law is a strong advantage. Bachelor's degree preferred. Preferred Qualifications 3+ years' experience in an office environment Ability to effectively set priorities, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects for several attorneys Ability to search case management systems and agency records and assist with organizing, summarizing and/or categorizing documents Strong verbal and written communication skills Exceptionally well organized and detail oriented Adaptable to changing priorities; flexible in terms of case type Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to interact with all levels of firm personnel, clients, and volunteers and to direct student interns in a variety of tasks Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe PDF) Document drafting (routine motions and simple authentic acts) Bachelor's degree Additional Desired Qualifications Bilingual in Spanish/English strongly preferred Notary or willing to become a notary Experience with Wills & Estates in Louisiana, particularly Successions Experience working or volunteering in a legal and/or non-profit environment, on poverty issues and/or a passion and interest in social justice work Salary This is a salaried, part-time position. This position is funded through a grant, and employment beyond the grant period is contingent upon continued funding. The Pro Bono Project is an equal opportunity employer. The salary for this position is commensurate with similarly situated nonprofit legal service organizations, based on experience and qualifications. Benefits include paid parking, vacation, holiday and medical leave policies. Application Details Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but priority will be given to applications that are submitted before September 25, 2026. Please send a resume, cover letter, and list of three professional references to: C.C. Kahr, Executive Director at with the subject line "Legal Assistant." If you require reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please communicate your request as soon as possible. No phone calls please.

Pay:

From $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

Free parking

Work Location:

In person