Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (Legal Aid) is seeking a full-time attorney for its Minneapolis office to staff a community legal clinic focused on the needs of recent immigrants, primarily from East Africa. The clinic is located at the Brian Coyle Community Center in South Minneapolis. The Brian Coyle Center is among the city’s busiest social service centers with a continuum of social service programs designed around the neighborhood’s rapidly changing immigrant communities. Services include a food bank and youth programs. Most clients seeking legal help at this clinic site have immigration, family, or benefits cases.
As an equal opportunity employer, Legal Aid is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. We welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goal of equal justice for all. We are committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Apply the principles of Legal Aid’s Racial Justice Values Statement in all interactions.
• Develop, strengthen, and maintain relationships with the client community and partners at the Brian Coyle Center
• Screen clients for a wide range of legal needs and, in consultation with the supervising attorney, determine whether the clients should be served through advice, brief service, or full representation provided by Legal Aid and its pro bono partners
• Provide representation in some cases and assist with the placement of others
• Develop and provide a range of culturally appropriate community legal education
• Follow emerging issues in the client community that lend themselves to complex litigation or public policy advocacy
• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota or eligible for admission by reciprocity
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to the needs of low-income/vulnerable clients
• Creativity and the desire to work semi-independently
• Ability to collaborate with MMLA team members
• Excellent analytical and written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office is required
• 2-3 years of immigration law experience preferred
• Legal training, knowledge of community resources, and experience with case management software preferred
• Diverse economic, social, and cultural experiences preferred
• Language proficiency, particularly in Amharic, Oromo, or Somali preferred.
Submit resume, cover letter, and three job-related references online at https://mylegalaid.org/employment by December 22nd, 2021, or until position is filled.