Part-Time Administrative Assistant (1099 Contractor)

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission, which is chaired by Chief Justice Paul Newby, was established in November 2005 by a North Carolina Supreme Court Order. The Commission’s mission is to overcome barriers to justice and empower North Carolinians to meet their legal needs through our leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving. Among the strategies of the commission are unmet legal needs assessment, statewide strategic planning, coordination of efforts between the legal aid organizations and other legal and non-legal organizations, resource development, and expanding civil access to justice.

The Pro Bono Resource Center (PBRC), a Commission program, helps overcome barriers to justice by assisting lawyers in fulfilling their professional responsibility to provide pro bono legal service. As a nonprofit organization commissioned by the Supreme Court of North Carolina and with a close working relationship with the Judicial Branch, the Pro Bono Resource Center nimbly responds to unmet legal needs as they arise and creates strategic collaborative solutions to those needs, all while leveraging the credibility of the state’s highest court and access to court staff. In addition to planning clinics and connecting legal professionals to projects, the PBRC also provides a range of activities such as:

  1. Piloting pro bono initiatives to develop effective programs and expertise. Staff assesses legal needs where pro bono service can make a meaningful difference, then launch replicable programs like the Driver’s License Restoration Project using best practices.
  2. Educating, inspiring, and recognizing our peers. PBRC develops and presents CLE sessions on the importance and ethics of pro bono service, Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1, and cross-cultural lawyering. Staff manage NC’s voluntary pro bono reporting process and enjoy hearing from hundreds of attorneys every year.
  3. Responding to natural disasters. We are the “go-to” for organizing pro bono clinics in response to natural disasters like hurricanes and the pandemic. The PBRC continues to target legal needs exacerbated by the pandemic.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Pro Bono Resource Center Director, the part-time administrative assistant will support the Pro Bono Resource Center in its work to increase access to justice in North Carolina. This professional will help the Pro Bono Resource Center Director and staff to maintain efficient operations of the organization by fostering administrative relationships between the organization and pro bono stakeholders, managing data around client and community services, coordinating event and meeting logistics, and providing professional public-facing communications by phone and other correspondence. This position is 15 hours per week.

EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS, AND TRAINING

  • High school diploma required;
  • Minimum Associates Degree preferred;
  • Paralegal Certification or experience preferred;
  • Experience as an administrative assistant for nonprofit organizations or government agencies preferred;
  • NC Notary Public commission preferred;

PREFERRED SOFTWARE SKILLS

  • Document management software— Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft SharePoint
  • Calendar, communication, and electronic mail software— Microsoft Outlook and Teams
  • Project management and CMS software — AirTable, Formstack, Neon
  • Spreadsheet software— Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets
  • Word processing software— Microsoft Word, Google Docs
  • Database user interface and query software— Guide and File, E-Courts File and Serve, CIPRS

REQUIRED SKILLS

  • Active Listening— Gives full attention to what other people are saying, takes time to understand the points being made; asks questions as appropriate; does not interrupt at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking— Talks to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading Comprehension— Understands written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Writing— Communicates effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Critical Thinking— Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Social Perceptiveness— Is aware of others’ reactions and understands why they react as they do.
  • Service Orientation— Actively looks for ways to help people.
  • Time Management— Manages one’s own time and the time of others.
  • Coordination— Adjusts actions in relation to others’ actions.
  • Judgment and Decision Making— Considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Monitoring— Monitors/Assesses performance of self, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

EXPERIENCE

Required:

  • Excellent demonstrated professional interpersonal and communication abilities;
  • Exceptional organizational skills;
  • Ability to write professional emails free of spelling and grammatical errors;
  • Well-versed in technology (Microsoft Office, data management, setting up in-person presentations, etc.); and
  • Self-motivated, team-oriented, and reliable.

Preferred:

  • Experience with data and project management software;
  • Experience with WordPress;
  • Experience with poverty law, legal services, and/or public policy issues;
  • Experience coordinating volunteer projects;
  • Knowledge of the North Carolina civil court system; and
  • Knowledge of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Support the staff of the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center by coordinating data management, event logistics, and other administrative tasks;
  • Manage public-facing email communications to the Pro Bono Resource Center;
  • Administer electronic forms and surveys;
  • Assist with continuing legal education scheduling, applications, and reporting;
  • Assist with administrative tasks for the Driver’s License Restoration Project;
  • Assistance on other staff projects as necessary.

How to apply:

Email a resume and cover letter or alternative one-page writing sample to Sylvia Novinsky at sylvia@ncprobono.org. Submissions without both documents will not be considered.

Deadline to apply:

January 29, 2023