Staff Attorney
The staff attorney is responsible for providing general civil legal advice, assistance, or representation to eligible clients.
This attorney in this position is expected to:
Maintain the highest ethical and professional standards as a member of the State Bar; adhere to the American Bar Association Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid; embrace and support TLSC's overall mission; and comply with all grant requirements, regulations, standards, policies, and confidentiality requirements.
This is a grant funded position.
Essential Functions:
- Provide high quality legal advice and assistance primarily over the telephone to eligible clients and client organizations in a compassionate, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed manner.
- Analyze legal and societal problems and devise savvy strategic plans to eliminate social injustices while often utilizing outside-the-box thinking.
- Execute intake interviews, confirm eligibility for services and check for conflicts of interest according to TLSC policy.
- Communicate with third parties, media, and public on behalf of clients to resolve legal problems and to advocate on behalf of clients and the TLSC mission.
- Prepare for, attend, assist, argue, and conduct depositions, hearings, trials, and appeals.
- Travel to designated counties in the state of Texas to conduct outreach and clinic activities, and legal representation.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Competencies:
- Current knowledge and expertise of the law and legal system, especially in areas that impact senior citizens, Medicare, Medicaid, housing, and other public benefits.
- High-level organizational skills.
- Exceptional listening, verbal, and written communications skills.
- Strong time management and attention to detail.
- Proficiency with (or the ability to learn) LegalServer (TLSC's case management system).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Understanding of grant requirements and associated reporting needs.
- Commitment to promoting inclusion, equity, and cultural responsiveness, and to protecting the rights of marginalized and underserved populations.
- Ability to travel to out-of-town locations that include overnight stays.
- Ability to work with clients in a patient, trauma-informed and non-judgmental manner.
- Ability to enter information into case management system accurately.
Minimum Education and Experience:
J.D. Degree
Licensure and/or Certification: Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas.
Physical Requirements:
Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.
Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.
Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force as needed, at times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.