Organization:
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNEM) provides legal representation to low-income and senior citizens in 11 counties with offices in Duluth, Grand Rapids, Virginia and satellite offices in Brainerd and Pine City. In the 63 years since LASNEM was founded, we have become an integral part of the justice system and a cornerstone of Northeastern Minnesota’s commitment to the proposition that equal access to justice is a basic human right. Our main offices are located in Duluth, Grand Rapids, and Virginia, with staffed satellite offices in Brainerd and Pine City. In addition to a full range of general poverty law services, LASNEM operates special projects to focus on the unique needs of the clients we serve, such as the Senior Law Project, the Native American Outreach Project in Itasca County, Domestic Violence Courts in both Crow Wing and Itasca Counties, and integral work for partnerships to prevent homelessness. LASNEM is also one of the seven legal services programs that form the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition.
Responsibilities:
The staff attorney position at the Pine City location requires the representing low-income individuals in all areas of poverty law, such as family law, orders for protection, landlord/tenant disputes, evictions, utilities, public benefits, consumer, expungement and other civil matters. The types of services provided include legal advice, brief service or extended representation. Aside from direct services, the staff attorney position requires preparing and delivering client and attorney training and other community education; conducting intake and outreach; appearing in administrative and judicial forums; active bar participation and special legal and community projects impacting low income clients.
The staff attorney position is currently the only attorney position housed at the Pine City office. The staff attorney’s work will be supported by the Pine City office paralegal. The staff attorney will be supervised by one of the three managing attorneys from the other LASNEM branch offices. Therefore, the staff attorney must have strong communication skills and willingness to connect virtually, electronically, in person or on the phone with their fellow team members. Training, mentoring and support will be consistently available for the new staff attorney at the Pine City office by both the staff attorney’s managing attorney and fellow LASNEM attorneys and paralegals
Qualifications:
Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota or eligibility for admission by motion or reciprocity. Previous experience in poverty law is preferred but not required. Demonstrable awareness and sensitivity to the needs of the populations we serve is necessary. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license, working vehicle and willingness to travel to court proceedings, outreach opportunities, staff meetings and trainings. Excellent written and communication skills, ability to work constructively with others, ability and willingness to work hard, good judgment and willingness to work independently are all necessary qualifications for this position. Applicants must be flexible and willing to accept additional duties as necessary.
Deadline to Apply: Monday, May 1, 2017. Late applications may be considered until position is filled.
Please submit a cover letter, resume and list of three references via email only to:
Dori Streit, Executive Director,
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota
424 W. Superior St., Suite 302
Duluth, MN 55802
[email protected]