Staff Attorney HPP

Full-time

No

H1: Staff Attorney – Home Preservation Project

H2: Job Description

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides high-quality free civil legal services to low-income persons in 114 counties in North and West Texas. They are seeking a dynamic, self-starting individual who has vision, initiative, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law to fill a staff attorney position in its Weatherford, Texas office.

H2: Job Duties and Responsibilities

The staff attorney must be able to gather evidence, advise clients about their rights, draft legal documents, and conduct civil lawsuits. The staff attorney must interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence, as well as handle other tasks in representing clients. The staff attorney will provide legal assistance in areas of general civil law, including but not limited to: employment, housing, foreclosure prevention, consumer, probate, special education, social security, public benefits and bankruptcy with an immediate emphasis on eviction defense, landlord-tenant law, housing related matters and legal matters meant to obtain, maintain and stabilize housing. The staff attorney will represent clients in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies of government. The staff attorney will also interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for clients and the client community.

The staff attorney will also design and carry out outreach and community legal education and work closely with the community and low-income community groups to further LANWT’s mission of reducing poverty by providing equitable access to the civil justice system. The staff attorney may supervise and coordinate activities of legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers. In short, the staff attorney is expected to handle a caseload involving substantial litigation and other justice-related advocacy, periodically attend evening legal clinics, and devise and participate in community legal education programs and outreach offered by LANWT.

H2: Qualifications

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Prior experience handling contested landlord-tenant, housing and/or foreclosure prevention cases preferred.
Prior experience handling contested litigation cases preferred.
Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving low-income persons preferred.
Strong understanding of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Texas Rules of Evidence.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
The ability to think and plan strategically and to develop and implement projects.
Possess a strong work ethic and a sense of accountability.
Fluent in Spanish – both verbal and written is preferred.
Excellent attendance record.
Ability to engage in occasional work-related travel.

H2: Salary and Benefits

The current entry-level salary for a new attorney is $66,500 per year. The salary for the successful applicant may be significantly higher, based on applicant’s years of experience. LANWT offers an excellent benefits package that includes paid vacation and holidays; a retirement plan; health, dental, and life insurance.

H2: Submit Application

Please submit a cover letter expressing interest, a resume, and three professional references during the application process.

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is an equal opportunity employer, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Organization is seeking a dynamic, self-starting individual with vision, initiative, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law to fill a staff attorney position in its Weatherford, Texas office. The successful applicant will provide daily representation in civil legal matters, demonstrate a commitment to identifying and taking advantage of opportunities for strategic advocacy, and engage in outreach to and collaboration with low-income persons, including community groups that are made up of or serve the indigent.

Job Responsibilities:

Gather evidence
Advise clients about their rights
Draft legal documents
Conduct civil lawsuits
Interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence
Represent clients in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies of government
Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for clients and the client community
Provide legal assistance in areas of general civil law, including but not limited to: employment, housing, foreclosure prevention, consumer, probate, special education, social security, public benefits and bankruptcy
Design and carry out outreach and community legal education
Work closely with the community and low-income community groups to further LANWT’s mission
Supervise and coordinate activities of legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers
Handle a caseload involving substantial litigation and other justice-related advocacy
Attend evening legal clinics
Devise and participate in community legal education programs and outreach offered by LANWT
Provide high-quality representation to indigent clients in accordance with LANWT’s policies and procedures

Qualifications:


Prior experience handling contested landlord-tenant, housing and/or foreclosure prevention cases preferred
Prior experience handling contested litigation cases preferred
Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving low-income persons preferred
Strong understanding of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Texas Rules of Evidence
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
The ability to think and plan strategically and to develop and implement projects
Possess a strong work ethic and a sense of accountability
Fluent

Paid vacation and holidays; a retirement plan; health, dental, and life insurance

Spanish

Licensed to practice law in Texas, Prior experience handling contested landlord-tenant, housing and/or foreclosure prevention cases, Prior experience handling contested litigation cases, Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving low-income persons, Strong understanding of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Texas Rules of Evidence, Excellent verbal and written communication skills, The ability to think and plan strategically and to develop and implement projects, Possess a strong work ethic and a sense of accountability, Fluent in Spanish – both verbal and written is preferred, Excellent attendance record, Ability to engage in occasional work-related travel

Submit a cover letter expressing interest, a resume, and three professional references during the application process

Qualification and Experience Licensed to practice law in Texas

Legal