Staff Attorney MLP-Hybrid/Remote

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION:              Staff Attorney – Medical Legal Partnership (Full-Time)

CLOSING DATE:    Position Immediately Available & Closed When Filled

LOCATION:             Hybrid/Remote – Fort Worth, Texas

OVERVIEW: Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) seeks a dynamic, self-starting attorney who has a demonstrated commitment to public interest law with an emphasis on assisting individuals and families impacted by mental health to fill the staff attorney position in its Medical Legal Partnership in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to providing daily representation to these target populations, the staff attorney shall engage in community outreach and education to low-income persons, including community groups made up of income eligible members or that serve the indigent; and will engage in strategic advocacy aimed at improving healthcare outcomes for the low-income community.

DESCRIPTION: LANWT is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides high-quality free civil legal services to low-income persons in 114 counties in North and West Texas.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: A staff attorney must be able to gather evidence, advise clients about their rights, draft legal documents, and conduct civil lawsuits. A staff attorney must interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence, as well as handle other tasks in representing clients. A staff attorney represents clients in quasi-judicial tribunals and in administrative agencies of government. The staff attorney also interprets laws, rulings, and regulations for clients and the client community.

The staff attorney designs and carries out outreach and community legal education and works closely with the community, low-income community groups and health care provider staff to further LANWT’s mission of reducing poverty by providing equitable access to the civil justice system. For purposes of the Medical Legal Partnership, these providers include the staff at various hospitals and clinic facilities designed to treat indigent patients. The staff attorney may supervise and coordinate activities of legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers. In addition, the staff attorney will develop training materials for health care professionals to spot systemic health-related issues that correlate with legal problems. In short, the staff attorney is expected to efficiently handle a caseload involving substantial litigation and other justice-related advocacy, periodically attend evening legal clinics, establish meaningful relationship with community organizations, and devise and participate in community legal education programs and outreach offered by LANWT.

In fulfilling this mission, the attorney will provide high-quality representation to indigent clients in accordance with LANWT’s policies and procedures and with an attorney’s responsibilities under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and the American Bar Association’s Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services to the Poor.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed to practice law in Texas.
• Prior experience working with probate, guardianship, public benefits, Veteran Benefits and/or landlord-tenant matters.
• Prior legal services, public interest, social work or volunteer experience serving the low-income population is preferred.
• Prior experience addressing mental health including advocacy for persons and families impacted by mental health associated issues preferred.
• Previous progressive litigation experience or administrative law experience preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills and excellent at public speaking.
• Candidate must be detail oriented, efficient, organized and self-motivated.
• Ability to interact professionally and courteously with individuals at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and partner with multidisciplinary programs, administrators and staff to effectuate systemic change.
• Excellent computer skills with use of Microsoft products preferred.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment while maintaining client confidentiality.
• Ability to think strategically and exceptional problem-solving skills.
• Ability to engage in occasional work-related travel.
• Fluent in Spanish – both verbal and written is preferred.

COMPENSATION: Current entry-level salary for a new attorney is $66,500 per year. The salary for the successful applicant may be significantly higher, based on applicant’s years of experience.

BENEFITS: Excellent benefits package that includes paid vacation and holidays; a retirement plan; health, dental and life insurance.

Please submit a cover letter expressing interest, a resume, and three professional references during the application process.

LEGAL AID OF NORTHWEST TEXAS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 
VETERANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY