Staff Attorney Eviction Prevention Project & Housing Law La Crosse Office

Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is seeking one full-time staff attorney to work at our La Crosse Office. The attorney will practice in housing law mainly in La Crosse County, but some in our surrounding counties as well.

LEGAL ACTION OF WISCONSIN
We are a large and vibrant non-profit law firm funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Victim of Crime Act funding, the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, and many other sources. Each year, we provide free legal aid to about 11,000 – 14,000 low-income persons in Wisconsin’s southern 39 counties with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Oshkosh, Green Bay, and La Crosse. In addition, the firm operates a statewide farmworker project and a statewide legal aid to human trafficking victims project. Most of our work is in the areas of housing, public benefits, removing barriers to employment, consumer, family law, and victim rights. Legal Action attorneys specialize in specific areas of law, though they may be called upon to work in multiple areas. They provide high-quality and aggressive representation, maintain a direct service caseload of individual clients, and contribute to the firm’s work to engage in law reform litigation and other impact work.

Most staff in the La Crosse Office have returned to the physical office, but some still work partially remotely. A schedule that combines remote work and in-office work can be considered upon hire. A fully remote position can be discussed on a case by case basis. New hires will receive some training in the physical office and some remote training depending on what works for the applicant.

Legal Action believes that equal justice under law can only be achieved through the collaboration of a diverse staff. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and people with life experiences or educational backgrounds that add to the firm’s diversity and our capacity to provide high-quality legal aid.

OFFICE LOCATION
The La Crosse office has recently moved to a new office located at 700 North Third Street, Suite 203, La Crosse, WI, 54601. The La Crosse Office staff currently consists of a Managing Attorney, 3 staff attorneys and 1 paralegal. Our La Crosse office serves 10 counties in south central Wisconsin. However, this position will be almost entirely conducted in La Crosse County.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Legal Action is seeking one full-time attorney to provide legal representation in eviction defense cases. Staff attorneys may be reassigned to other legal practice areas and duties as the staffing needs of the firm change. These positions are supervised by the managing attorney of the La Crosse Office. These positions are subject to a probationary period of up to one year. Responsibilities will include:

• Provide advice and representation primarily in eviction and housing law cases, including but not limited to:
o Representation of clients with a termination notice or eviction from public or subsidized housing (including housing with a section 8 rent assistance voucher).
o Representation of tenants in motions to seal their eviction cases.
o Representation of tenants whose landlords are in foreclosure.
• Representation of clients in appeals.
• Perform all duties associated with such advice and representation as defined by our attorney performance standards.
• Participate in regular case review with the Managing Attorney.
• Stay current with the areas of law that pertain to the low-income community as they change and develop, particularly in the housing law.
• Perform intake duties and, where necessary, make appropriate referrals to other community agencies.
• Actively participate in Legal Action’s Housing Law Priority Committee.
• Identify and help develop impact litigation and advocacy in coordination with the Housing Law Priority Coordinator, the Assistant Director of Litigation, and others.
• Occasionally conduct community education sessions.
• Become familiar with and stay current in understanding community needs.

SALARY
Legal Action has two salary tiers available for Staff Attorneys. (Attorneys in our Madison office are represented by ULW and a collective bargaining agreement.)
Tier 1 Staff Attorney Salary Chart:
Step 0: $50,000
Step 1: $52,500 Step 11: $81,000 Step 21: $98,000
Step 2 $55,000 Step 12: $83,500 Step 22: $99,000
Step 3: $57,500 Step 13: $85,500 Step 23: $100,000
Step 4: $60,500 Step 14: $87,500 Step 24: $101,000
Step 5: $63,500 Step 15: $89,500 Step 25: $102,000
Step 6: $66,500 Step 16: $91,000 Step 26: $103,000
Step 7: $69,500 Step 17: $92,500 Step 27: $104,000
Step 8: $71,500 Step 18: $94,000 Step 28: $105,000
Step 9: $75,500 Step 19: $95,500 Step 29: $106,000
Step 10: $78,500 Step 20: $97,000 Step 30: $107,000

Generally, Tier I Staff Attorneys advance a step on the Tier 1 salary ladder on their anniversary date.
Tier 2 Staff Attorney Salary Chart:

Requires at least
3 years of Step 11: $87,075 Step 21: $105,350
experience Step 12: $89,763 Step 22: $106,425
Step 3: $61,813 Step 13: $91,913 Step 23: $107,500
Step 4: $65,038 Step 14: $94,063 Step 24: $108,575
Step 5: $68,263 Step 15: $96,213 Step 25: $109,650
Step 6: $71,488 Step 16: $97,825 Step 26: $110,725
Step 7: $74,713 Step 17: $99,438 Step 27: $111,800
Step 8: $77,938 Step 18: $101,050 Step 28: $112,875
Step 9: $81,163 Step 19: $102,663 Step 29: $113,950
Step 10: $84,388 Step 20: $104,275 Step 30: $115,025

Generally, Tier 2 Staff Attorneys advance a step on the Tier 2 salary ladder on their anniversary date.
Step placement is determined solely by the number of years of post-JD experience.
Tier placement is determined by the attorney’s skills and abilities to:
• consistently perform most Tier 1 Staff Attorney duties with minimal assistance or direction, a high level of efficiency and/or independent initiative, and less immediate, regular supervision;
• demonstrated initiative and ability to undertake additional duties such as, but not limited to mentoring, training, and otherwise supporting Tier 1 staff attorneys and others;
• consistently carry a caseload of substantial size and complexity suitable to an experienced attorney; and
• consistently adhere to Legal Action administrative and programmatic procedures such as, but not limited to contemporaneous timekeeping and accurate completion of administrative and client service forms.
FRINGE BENEFITS
Legal Action provides a generous fringe benefits package, including employer-paid health and dental insurance for employees, spouse, and eligible dependents. (Some employees are required to contribute to the health insurance premium for their spouse if the spouse has group health insurance provided by their employer.) Legal Action also provides life and long-term disability insurance, a profit-sharing retirement plan, salary deferral options for retirement planning, low-cost employee-paid vision coverage, three weeks of vacation per year, four days of personal leave, a generous sick leave benefit, and four weeks of paid parental leave for eligible employees.

MOVING EXPENSES AVAILABLE
Up to $1,200 in relocation expenses may be available for reimbursement.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The position involves sedentary work, working in a stationary position for an extended period, operating a computer, and using a telephone. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision of a computer screen. The position may require driving a motor vehicle while seated for short trips and/or extensive travel. The position requires occasional reaching, bending, kneeling, and stooping to retrieve assorted items and materials and the need to exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, or otherwise move objects.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY
At Legal Action of Wisconsin, health and safety is a top priority. We require all new employees and interns, law clerks, volunteers, and contractors from employment agencies or consulting firms to have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations and bivalent booster and to provide medical proof from Wisconsin’s Immunization Registry or from a medical provider of their fully vaccinated status as a condition of employment with Legal Action of Wisconsin within 28 days of their first day of employment. Individuals may request a medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Exemption requests must be completed and approved on or before the first day of employment.

GOVERNANCE
LAW's personnel policies and other operating policies and procedures, which are subject to unilateral change by the LAW Board of Directors. This position is subject to a probationary period of up to six months.