Veterans Legal Helpline Staff Attorney & Community Partnerships Counsel (Part-Time)

Veterans Legal Helpline Staff Attorney & Community Partnerships Counsel (Part-Time)

Are you interested in making a difference in your community?Are you passionate about helping others who are in need across different groups? Do you value work life balance? If you answer yes to these questions, Bay Area Legal Services may be the workplace for you!

Bay Area Legal Services is seeking to fill a part-time Staff Attorney role on its Veterans Team.

This is a professional position involving the delivery of high-quality legal advice, counseling and brief services as a licensed attorney. It requires excellent client interviewingskills,asubstantialknowledgeofabroadrangeofpovertylawissuesandtheability togiveimmediateassistancetoclientswhoseproblemsdonotrequirelitigationorothercomplex advocacyservices.Representsveterans,low-income,and/orothervulnerableclientpopulations who have limited access to legal services.

This role also plays a key part in strengthening the visibility, reach, and impact of the Veterans Legal Helpline by maintaining relationships with community partners, funders, and state legislators. The attorney will support both direct client services and the broader strategic goals of the Helpline.

Office Location

Ybor City
1302 N 19th Street
Suite 400
Tampa, FL 33605

This position is remote.

Illustrative Duties:

Internal:

• Process legal services requests and evaluate the complexity of each client’s legal problem,assessincomeeligibility,confirmapplicanteligibilitydeterminations,andmake appropriate legal and social services referrals for applicants and clients not eligible for Bay Area’s Services.Recommend exceptions to financial guidelines to the supervisor if appropriate.
• Provideslegalservicesasneededincludingadvice,research,andbriefservicestoclients who do not need extended representation, including preparing appropriate confirming lettersasnecessaryandprovidingself-help materials.
• Reviews documents submitted by applicants including durable and other powers of attorney and letters of guardianship.
• Determine whether extended legal services may be needed for FVLH clients and when appropriate, process referrals within Bay Area and to outside legal referral partners according to the guidelines established by the FVLH Manager
• Assistindevelopingandupdatingappropriatelegaladviceandbriefservicesletters,legal instructional materials and other written materials as requested by the VLH Manager

External:

• Educatestatelegislatorsonthelegalneedsofveteransandvulnerablepopulations including presenting program outcomes and client impact data.
• Increase visibility of the Helpline within the Florida Legislature and across West Florida by attending legislative events, community briefings, and advocacy -related meetings.
• Coordinatewithexternallegalpartners tofacilitate referrals for extendedrepresentation when appropriate.
• Coordinatesitevisitsbyschedulingandfacilitatingon-sitereviewswithfunding partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Admissiontothe FloridaBar andin goodstandingwithatleastfour yearsofexperience as a staff attorney or equivalent practice experience.
• Excellentcommunicationskills and theability towork closely and cooperatively with other team members.
• Demonstratedabilitytointerviewclientstodetermineessentialfactsregardingthe nature and severity of their legal problems.
• Demonstratedabilitytoacceptmajorresponsibilityandtoworkeffectivelyinanindependent but closely supervised environment.
• Awillingnesstoundertakemajormanagementtasks.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experienceingenerallegalpracticewithapreferencegiventolegalservicesexperience.
• Experienceand/orabilitytosupervise andworkcloselywith others.
• Sympathetic understanding of social, economic, as well as legal problems of individuals with limited access to legal services.

Compensation:

• Starting hourly rate is $39.30/hr. (increases based on relevant experience).
• Reimbursement for travel expenses for work events (mileage etc.)
• Bay Area offers a comprehensive benefit package including a 4% match for the 403b retirement plan with immediate vesting as well as Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability coverage and more.
• Bay Area also offers generous time off and work life balance with 13 paid holidays and three (3) weeks’ vacation for the 1st year of employment and a 37.5-hour work week.
• Bay Area attorneys may be eligible for some loan forgiveness programs through the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and the Florida Bar Foundation (FBF).

This position requires successful completion of a level II background screening based on the required duties and responsibilities.

Bay Area Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran.