POSITION: Oregon Law Center (OLC) seeks a full-time staff attorney to provide civil legal services to low-income clients, with a strong focus on domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The position is based in Hillsboro and serves clients in five northwest Oregon counties.
ABOUT US: OLC is a legal services program committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services. OLC does not receive funding from the federal Legal Services Corporation. OLC operates ten offices, a state support unit, a legislative advocacy unit, and a statewide farmworker program. OLC works closely with Legal Aid Services of Oregon and other partners in Oregon’s coordinated civil legal services delivery system.
OLC’s Hillsboro Regional Office is staffed by nine attorneys, three paralegals, and four legal assistants; three staff members are part-time. Its main office is in Hillsboro, with smaller offices in St. Helens and McMinnville. A significant percentage of the population eligible for services are Spanish-speakers. Priorities are set according to a community-based client needs assessment. Current priorities include family law, focused on domestic violence; housing, focused on fair housing and subsidized housing; administrative law; employment law; child support; elder law; and long-term care facility issues. We seek to make a difference in clients’ lives, and to help eliminate the barriers that cause poverty or reduce our clients’ ability to escape from poverty.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The staff attorney will handle impact litigation and individual cases. The staff attorney will carry a mixed caseload emphasizing domestic relations, represent clients in protective order proceedings, and work with community partners to strengthen systems that protect survivors. The staff attorney will conduct community education and outreach to clients and community-based groups, which includes frequent travel, and will have opportunities to promote the interest of low-income individuals in the development and implementation of laws, regulations, policies, and practices that directly affect our clients.
SALARY/BENEFITS: Salary depends on experience. Additional compensation for bilingual ability. Good benefits package.
OLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a healthy work environment for a diverse staff. Minority applicants are encouraged to apply.
REQUIREMENTS:
Admission to the Oregon Bar or willingness to take the next bar exam.
Demonstrated commitment to justice for low-income communities.
A high degree of initiative and ability to manage a caseload independently .
Strong interpersonal communication skills, sense of humor, and positive attitude.
Excellent written and verbal advocacy skills.
Interest in thinking creatively about how to address our clients’ legal issues.
Between 0 and 10 years of relevant legal experience.
PREFERENCES:
Fluency in spoken and written Spanish or another language spoken in our client communities.
Experience representing low-income clients, especially in non-English-speaking communities.
Experience with complex impact litigation.
Personal experience with poverty, disability, or any other minority status or affiliation.
HOW TO APPLY: Apply by November 27, 2017. To apply, submit your resume and letter of interest to Leslea Smith, Regional Director, Hillsboro Regional Office, [email protected].