Systemic Advocacy Staff Attorney

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Job location
2727 Second Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Lakeshore Legal Aid
Street address: 
2727 Second Ave.
City: 
Detroit
State: 
Michigan
ZIP: 
48201
Job type: 
Legal - Civil
Position Description: 

SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY STAFF ATTORNEY – Detroit, MI
Organization Overview:
Lakeshore Legal Aid serves low-income people, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in a holistic manner to address clients’ legal issues and improve our communities. Lakeshore provides free direct legal representation in southeast Michigan and the thumb and client intake, advice, and brief legal services throughout Michigan via our attorney-staffed hotline. Our practice areas include housing, family, consumer, elder, education, and public benefits law.

Position Overview:
Lakeshore is seeking a dedicated lawyer who will advocate and litigate on behalf of low-income and senior clients. Staff attorneys will be responsible for representing clients in a holistic manner to achieve clients’ goals through advocacy including litigation. Staff Attorneys in the Systemic Advocacy provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients or client groups in civil cases to address systemic problems confronting the poverty community through a racial justice lens. In addition to individual client representation, staff attorneys are expected to be active in the community through participation in outreach and community organizations. Staff attorneys will treat clients, co-workers, and others with dignity and respect.

General Task Areas:
• Provide timely civil legal services to low-income and senior clients and client groups through representation in trial courts, appellate courts and other forums, through litigation, advice, negotiation, drafting and review of legal documents, referrals and administrative advocacy.
• Identify and develop strategies to address systemic problems confronting client communities.
• Engage in complex litigation, mass litigation, and community lawyering through a racial justice lens. Serve clients in a holistic and client-centered manner.
• Develop or update resource materials regarding systemic poverty issues.
• Provide themselves as a resource to other staff regarding systemic impact work.
• Ensure compliance with funding requirements.
• Communicate and establish contacts with court, community agencies, local and state bar associations, and local client groups as appropriate. Act as a resource to such groups when appropriate.
• Participate in groups, taskforces, or associations whose activities substantially affect Lakeshore Legal Aid’s work and the legal rights of low-income persons.
• Create and/or deliver presentations to community groups on legal services related topics.
• Participate in office-defined or program-defined impact projects.
• Develop continuing expertise to handle increasingly more complex litigation or other projects.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned by the supervising attorney, a director, CEO, or a CEO designee.

Salary
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and includes excellent benefits including medical, dental,
vision, life insurance/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability, retirement plan, paid time off and
personal time.

To apply, submit your cover letter and resume at our website www.lakeshorelegalaid.org

** Do not delay. Applications accepted until 5 pm, October 1, 2021, or until the position is filled. **
LLA values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements: 

Qualifications:
• Graduated from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, or an application at the first opportunity for admission by reciprocity, or by taking the first available bar exam.
• Demonstrated interest in the area of poverty law and working with low-income individuals. Able to communicate effectively, be empathetic, and understand the diverse clients of the poverty community.
• Demonstrated interest in addressing systemic issues confronting low-income communities.
• Admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, or the ability to
obtain license to the Federal Court immediately after start date.
• Demonstrable skills in litigation, advocacy, interviewing, and drafting legal documents.
• Dependable transportation for travel to intake sites, hearings, meetings, and trainings.
• Ability to deal effectively with people under difficult circumstances.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize multiple tasks.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

To apply: 

To apply, submit your cover letter and resume at our website www.lakeshorelegalaid.org

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Submission deadline: 
Wednesday, September 8, 2021