Staff Attorney - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Job location
230 W WELLS ST
ROOM 800
Milwaukee, WI 53203
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.
Street address: 
230 W WELLS ST, ROOM 800
City: 
Milwaukee
State: 
Wisconsin
ZIP: 
53203
Job type: 
Legal - Civil
Position Description: 

Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is seeking a full-time staff attorney to work at Legal Action's office located within the Center for Driver's License Recovery & Employment at MATC, 1027 North 7th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The position will be part of Legal Action's Road to Opportunity (RTO) project. The RTO project assists clients with the elimination of legal barriers to employment including driver's license advocacy, criminal record and noncustodial parent child support problems.

LEGAL ACTION OF WISCONSIN, INC.

Legal Action of Wisconsin is a vibrant, growing non-profit organization funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, and other sources. Legal Action provides free legal aid to about 13,500 low-income persons annually in the southern 39 counties of Wisconsin with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Oshkosh, Green Bay, and La Crosse. In addition, Legal Action operates a statewide farmworkers project. Legal Action attorneys have expertise in a range of substantive areas, but the majority of our work is in the areas of housing, public benefits, removing barriers to employment, and family law. Staff attorneys are expected to maintain a direct service caseload on behalf of individual and group clients, as well as to engage in law reform litigation and other impact work. Attorneys are expected to specialize in specific areas of poverty law.

MILWAUKEE AREA OFFICE. The Milwaukee Area Office staff of 35 attorneys, 12 paralegals, and 17 other administrative, professional and technical staff provides representation to residents of Milwaukee and Waukesha County. Intake is done on a walk-in basis at the office or at neighborhood outstations in Milwaukee and Waukesha. Some telephone intake is also done. The Milwaukee Area Office also houses the Legal Action administrative staff, the SeniorLAW Project, and a Volunteer Lawyers Project. Two attorneys are located at the Center for Driver's License Recovery & Employment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The position will involve providing legal representation on driver's license restoration. Legal Action staff attorneys are responsible for providing quality and aggressive representation of clients in service cases and in impact work, and for performing all duties associated with such representation. Attorneys must keep up with the law as it changes and develops, particularly in their area of specialization. Attorneys are expected to share responsibility for the development and maintenance of good working relationships with community groups, as well as with state and local bar associations. Attorneys will be called upon to provide training and other assistance to members of Legal Action's Volunteer Lawyer Project. All staff attorneys will be expected to perform intake duties and, where necessary, make appropriate referrals to other community agencies. Each staff attorney is responsible for serving on at least one Priority Committee. Staff attorneys may be reassigned to other legal practice areas and duties as the staffing needs of the firm change.

OTHER DUTIES

Staff attorneys may supervise clerks or paralegals in addition to other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Requirements: 

Qualifications for this position include an ability to work across the broad range of legal areas involved in the Road to Opportunity project and a knowledge of at least one of the legal areas encompassed by this project.

Prior legal services or other relevant experience is helpful. Admission to the Wisconsin Bar is required upon hire. Legal Action has an affirmative action plan for the hiring of members of minority groups and women. While academic training and performance as well as the nature and extent of prior legal experience are considered, review of the applications will also consider the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the legal problems and needs of low-income persons, commitment to providing legal services to such persons, prior legal work in the client community or in other programs to aid the poor, ability to communicate with persons in the client community who speak a language other than English as their principal language (e.g.: Spanish), and cultural affinity with the client community.

Legal Action requires a personal commitment to legal services work and a high commitment to providing quality and aggressive representation in service cases and in impact work. Attorneys must be knowledgeable in state and federal law and procedure. Attorneys must meet high standards of written and courtroom advocacy. Applicants must be able to communicate both orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner and work harmoniously with others.

To apply: 

Persons interested in applying for this position should submit a cover letter, résumé summarizing their experience and qualifications, names and contact information for three references, a writing sample and a law school transcript to [email protected]. All attachments should be in PDF format.

Please specify the Legal Action office and position for which you are submitting an application.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

The positions will be open until filled. To assure consideration, please submit application materials by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 15, 2019.

Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Notes: 
Starting salary depends upon experience and qualifications, with a minimum starting salary of $45,727. Position currently includes a full fringe benefit package with health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, a retirement plan, plus four weeks of vacation leave per year. The position is subject to a probationary period of up to one year. The position is governed by the Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. Personnel Policies which are subject to unilateral change by the Legal Action Board of Directors. As with any Legal Action position, there is no guaranteed period of employment and employment is "at will", subject to termination at any time. Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Salary range: 
Starting salary depends upon experience and qualifications, with a minimum starting salary of $45,727.
Submission deadline: 
Friday, March 15, 2019