About Utah Legal Services

Our Mission: To protect the rights of the disadvantaged and persons of limited means through legal representation, advocacy, and education.

Equal Justice Under Law is one of our nation’s most basic principles. However, economic realities often leave these promises unfulfilled. This is where Utah Legal Services comes in. Since our inception as a nonprofit in 1976, ULS has been committed to making equal justice a reality by providing free services in civil legal matters. Last year, ULS assisted over 9,000 clients with legal issues related to their basic needs, such as housing, family safety, and income security. More than 70 attorneys and legal professionals, working remote and in person, deliver client services from four regional offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo and St. George. Join our team and help us level the playing field for low- income Utahns, ensuring everyone has a voice in the legal system.

Job Summary

Attorneys at Utah Legal Services provide ethical and competent legal representation and client support services to clients from low income and disadvantaged communities across the state of Utah. We are looking for an individual with a passion for helping under-represented Utahns. As a Public Benefits Staff Attorney, you will represent clients in their applications and appeals for public benefits including Social Security Disability, unemployment, Medicaid, and other benefits from the Utah Department of Workforce Services. We represent clients from initial application for Social Security Disability through possible appeal to federal district court. Representation responsibilities include attending administrative hearings, briefing, negotiation, document preparation and filing, and superior case management to achieve optimal outcomes for clients.

Key Accountabilities

• Communicate with clients to determine eligibility and goals, present legal strategies and possible outcomes to clients to develop legal action plan; assess factual situations, advise client on how governing laws impact their situation.
• Represent clients, negotiate possible settlements, mitigate consequences to clients, in court and online, during non-evidentiary hearings, case management conferences and pre-trial hearings.
• Properly prepare, draft, edit and file court documents to implement client goals.
• Prepare pleadings, exhibits, motions, memorandum, discovery documents, motions, responses, administrative letters, briefs, petitions and counter petitions as needed for case progression and resolution.
• Review paralegal prepared documents, declarations and findings of facts; ensure document compliance with grantees and regulatory governing bodies.

• Effectively manage, update, organize and strategically review cases. Ensure casework meets compliance requirements for Legal Services Corporation.
• Attend trainings and Task Force meetings; complete appropriate CLEs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal abilities, verbal and written communication skills.
• High level of adaptability and attention to detail with strong analytic and critical thinking abilities.
• Demonstration of a strong commitment to assisting individuals from disadvantaged communities.
• Spanish speaking preferred but not required.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Juris Doctorate degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school.
• Admission and Good Standing within the Utah State Bar Association.

Job Factors/Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Benefits

Employees are eligible for benefits starting at 30 hours per week. Our benefit package includes health insurance, dental, employer paid vision insurance, life insurance, employer paid short and long-term disability coverage, paid parental leave, employee assistance programs, flex hours, continuing education opportunities through Coursera and Practicing Law Institute, student loan repayment program, 403b retirement account with employer matching contributions, generous paid-time off (21 days per year and increases at your second year), paid leave for 13 federal and state holidays, remote work options are also available for qualifying staff.

Utah Legal Services believes that equal opportunity of all employees is important for the continuing success of our organization. In accordance with state and federal law, this nonprofit will not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of race, disability, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status in hiring, promoting, demoting, trainings, benefits, transfers, layoffs, terminations, recommendations, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.