Job Type
Full-time
Description
Position Summary:
The TexasLawHelp.org staff attorney will provide legal advice and information to eligible clients through TexasLawHelp.org LiveChat. The TexasLawHelp.org staff attorney is responsible for drafting and revising TexasLawHelp.org legal content and various other program activities related to www.texaslawhelp.org. The attorney may coordinate volunteer and intern work activities.
This attorney in this position is expected to maintain the highest ethical and professional standards as a member of the State Bar; adhere to the American Bar Association Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid; embrace and support TLSC’s overall mission; and comply with all grant requirements, regulations, standards, policies, and confidentiality requirements.
This is a grant-funded position.
Essential Functions:
• Provide high-quality legal advice, assistance, and referrals to eligible clients through TexasLawHelp.org LiveChat, in a patient, compassionate, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed manner.
• Conduct intake interviews, confirm eligibility for services, and check for conflicts of interest according to TLSC policy.
• Conduct training and outreach activities.
• Identify the need for publications to assist self-represented litigants for TexasLawHelp.org.
• Ensure TexasLawHelp.org is accurate, updated, and free of spelling and grammar errors while being accessible and easily understood.
• Develop tools for TexasLawHelp.org to assist with form completion and filing of court documents.
• Create and maintain TexasLawHelp.org content, including legal information publications, videos, guides, interactive forms, print forms, and other material for TexasLawHelp.org.
• Coordinate projects between TexasLawHelp.org and other TLSC programs.
• Coordinate projects between TexasLawHelp.org and organizations outside of TLSC, including Texas Access to Justice Foundation grantees.
• Train and supervise law students, volunteers, and interns for TexasLawHelp.org LiveChat and developing content for the website.
• Perform special projects as assigned.
Requirements
Competencies:
• Current knowledge and expertise in general civil law and legal system.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• High-level organizational skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Strong skills in explaining complex legal topics to non-lawyers.
• Proficiency with (or the ability to quickly learn), TLSC’s case management system, Adobe, Microsoft Office products, Drupal 9 (TexasLawHelp.org’s content management system), and social media tools.
• Understanding grant requirements and associated reporting (or the ability to quickly learn the requirements)
• Ability to work with clients in a patient, trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and non-judgmental manner.
• Ability to enter information into the system accurately.
• Ability to learn new technologies to carry out job functions.
• Experience working in a public interest legal setting.
• Project management skills or familiarity with project management tools.
Supervisor Responsibilities: Not applicable for this position.
Minimum Education and Experience:
• J.D. Degree.
• Two (2) years of family law experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate with proficiency in Spanish or Vietnamese preferred.
Licensure and/or Certification: Licensure by the Supreme Court of Texas or within six months of hire.
Physical Requirements:
• Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.
• Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force as needed, at times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.