NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT STAFF ATTORNEY - YAKIMA
The Northwest Justice Project (NJP) is a not-for-profit law firm whose mission is to secure justice through high quality legal advocacy that promotes the long-term well-being of low-income individuals, families and communities through legal representation, community partnerships, education and other advocacy. This Integrated Rural Legal Assistance Project (IRLAP) position is funded under the federal Victims of Crime Act provided through a sub-contract with the state Office of Civil Legal Aid. NJP anticipates continued receipt of these funds and the positions are not subject to any specific grant or contract term. This is a full-time position, located in Yakima, WA.
NJP now seeks applications from qualified attorneys to undertake mission directed work statewide to address the civil legal needs of persons who have been victims of crime who experience related civil legal needs. Such crimes include, but are not limited to violent crimes, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, assault, human trafficking, as well as wage theft, fraud and other financial exploitation. The crime need not have been prosecuted or reported to law enforcement for the victim to receive civil legal services through NJP.
The project will primarily, but not exclusively, target services to victims who have significant barriers accessing civil legal assistance due to rural isolation, limited access, limited English proficiency, immigration status and other factors, making certain crime victims particularly vulnerable to civil legal issues arising from their having been a victim of a crime. The Yakima attorney will be expected to collaborate closely with victim services agencies in the geographic service area to identify and meet the civil legal needs of the client population.
Successful applicants for these positions will work together as a team within NJP and will collaborate as part of a broader team of attorneys serving within the Washington Alliance for Equal Justice. Applicants should have a desire to work with crime victims and with the agencies that serve them; and, be interested and willing to pursue civil litigation in areas related to housing, family law, consumer protection, public benefits and health care access, and other collateral impacts of victimization. Such impacts may include employment problems, credit issues, education and discrimination.
GENERAL JOB DUTIES: The team of VOCA attorneys will undertake a range of duties including, but not limited to:
• Work collaboratively with others to identify the most important problems impacting victims, their families and communities affected by crime.
• Engage with clients and victim services providers to identify and seek individualized and systemic solutions to adverse consequences of victimization, with particular focus on victim and family safety, protecting and preserving access to basic needs, and persons and groups that experience special barriers to accessing civil legal services, including seniors, people with disabilities, children, veterans, immigrants, limited English speaking persons, and other groups.
• Develop collaborative working relationships with a statewide network of advocates addressing similar and related issues throughout the state; participate in advocacy task
forces or work groups to address systemic issues that arise in the context of crime victimization.
• Utilize NJP’s case management and timekeeping systems and comply with all applicable
regulatory requirements and reporting needs.
• Help identify and develop on-line resources for use by attorneys and/or unrepresented litigants on crime victim rights and consequential legal impacts arising from being a
victim of crime.
• Support the work of NJP partners including the volunteer lawyers, private attorneys, other legal aid providers and interested parties and organizations addressing the legal needs of crime victims.
GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:
• Member of the Washington Bar or willing and able to take next bar exam.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Dependable organizational and time management skills.
• Attention to detail and willingness to develop and maintain systems to facilitate grant reporting and compliance requirements.
• Willingness to work and live in eastern Washington and reliable transportation and ability to travel within the geographic service area (Yakima and Kittitas Counties).
• Experience working with economic crime victims, violent crimes, e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault, assault, trafficking, etc.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners, client communities, law enforcement, health care providers, guardians, case managers and others.
• Cultural competency; especially with crime victims, people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, immigrants, limited English proficient persons, etc.
• Overall commitment to low income populations will be evaluated for each
candidate. Preference given to those with direct or indirect experience working with the client populations described above.
• Spanish language fluency is required.
TO APPLY: Resume and letter of interest in position should be sent to Karen Holland at [email protected]. Letters of interest and email subject line should clearly reference “VOCA Attorney - YAKIMA”. Date of availability should be noted in cover letter. Application materials should specifically identify examples of relevant work applicant has handled, including whether as lead or co-counsel, case management, training, CLE or other presentations on legal topics related to protection of crime victims, etc., recognitions and references. Please include proficiency in languages other than English on the resume. Writing samples may be requested before interview. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.