Expanding legal services project (ELSP) staff attorney

Expanding legal services project (ELSP) staff attorney

Status: Full-time, exempt
Location: Dakota County, MN (Twin Cities Metropolitan Area)
Reports to: Chief executive officer
Salary: $70,000 - $82,000/year, depending on qualifications 
Esperanza United offers a competitive benefits package for full-time employees including health insurance, paid time off, and 403B retirement plan. Please view more details in the Benefits section.

About us

Esperanza United mobilizes Latinas and Latin@ communities to end domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Formerly Casa de Esperanza, Esperanza United was founded in 1982 by a small group of persevering Latinas as an emergency shelter in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Position overview

The Expanding legal services project (ELSP) staff attorney is responsible for leading the new initiative of the ELSP, including planning and implementing priorities, as well as providing high quality legal information, counsel, and representation to clients. The ELSP staff attorney will be supervised by an external contract attorney.

Core responsibilities

• Provide effective legal assistance to Latin@ survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking and clients of the ELSP
• Directly supervise ELSP legal coordinator
• Assist in the development and creation of the ELSP
• Work closely with OVW TTA providers, community partners, and program coordinator to develop appropriate policies and procedures for the ELSP
• Work closely with family advocacy team to provide holistic case management and support
• Successfully handle all aspects of a domestic violence family law case load, including protection orders, divorce matters, custody, and/or child support. Caseload to include brief advice, unbundled services, and full representation in court
• Develop, promote, and participate in program initiatives to link with other community organizations to enhance Esperanza United legal services
• Maintain knowledge of current resources offered by Esperanza United and other community organizations
• Build and strengthen existing relationships with other community organizations, as well as identify and create new relationships, to maximize benefits and services available to ELSP clients

Planning/administrative responsibilities

• Provide clear and timely data entry and work documentation for reporting purposes
• Contribute to analysis of the ELSP, the organization as a whole, and community trends
• Participate in job-related training, including that around trauma-informed legal practices
• Perform administrative duties as needed

Required qualifications

Education and experience

• One-three years of experience in family law/domestic violence law/litigation (must be admitted to the Minnesota bar)
• Membership in good standing in the Minnesota State Bar
• Knowledge of family/civil law, including but not limited to protection orders, custody issues, child support, divorce matters, and general knowledge of related areas of law including criminal law, housing, and administrative law
• Experience working with victim survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills
• Excellent communication, analytical, and writing skills
• Excellent community engagement and public speaking skills

Skills and abilities

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills in Spanish and English
• Ability to communicate with clients in a trauma-informed way
• Highly responsible and accountable
• Highly organized and detail-oriented while still able to possess a “big picture” perspective
• Ability to work with tight deadlines
• Ability to manage multiple priorities to ensure work is completed in a timely and productive manner
• Strong listening skills and the ability to intervene, de-escalate, and resolve conflicts effectively and independently
• Open to new ideas and innovation. Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit. Collaborative and dependable, non-ego driven

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working in Dakota County, Minnesota courts
• Knowledge of the Latin@ community in the Twin Cities metro area. Bicultural experience preferred

The above statements are not intended to encompass all the functions and qualifications of this position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this job description.

Benefits
At Esperanza United, we value employee wellbeing and offer a competitive benefits package to our full-time employees, which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance/additional death and dismemberment insurance
• Flexible spending account, health savings account, and dependent care flexible spending account
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Free employee assistance program
• Ten paid holidays and two paid personal floating holidays
• Generous PTO (personal time off)
  
  

 To apply

As part of the application process, please include a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample.

Salary : $70,000 - $82,000