Texas Legal Services Center is Hiring a Staff Attorney, TxLawHelp Near Austin, TX
Job Type
Full-time Description Position Summary: The TexasLawHelp/Virtual Court Access Project attorney is responsible for providing legal assistance to eligible clients and conducting virtual legal clinics to low-income Texans in rural areas across the state. The attorney in this position is expected to: Maintain the highest ethical and professional standards; embrace and support TLSC's overall mission; and comply with all grant requirements, regulations, standards, policies, and confidentiality requirements. This is a grant-funded position. Essential Functions:
Provide high quality legal advice, assistance, and referrals to eligible clients, including through TexasLawHelp LiveChat, in a patient, compassionate, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed manner.
Conduct intake interviews, confirm eligibility for services, and check for conflicts of interest according to TLSC policy.
Assist clients in drafting and filing legal documents.
Work with underserved communities and VCAP host sites to facilitate access to legal help.
Travel to remote locations to conduct training and outreach activities.
Assist clients with navigating the TexasLawHelp website.
Coordinate projects between VCAP, within the practice area group, within TLSC, and organizations outside of TLSC.
Train and lead law students, volunteers, and interns for TexasLawHelp LiveChat.
Identify the need for publications to assist self-represented litigants for both print and web-publication for TexasLawHelp.
Draft and update legal information publications, tools, and forms for TexasLawHelp.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements Competencies:
Current knowledge and expertise of the law and legal system, especially in areas that impact family law.
Project management skills.
High level organization skills.
Strong time management and attention to detail skills.
Exceptional verbal, listening, and written communications skills.
Proficiency with (or the ability to learn) LegalServer (TLSC's case management system), Adobe, Microsoft Office products, G Suite apps, and social media tools.
Understanding of grant requirements and associated reporting needs.
Ability to travel to remote locations.
Ability to work with clients in a patient, trauma-informed and non-judgmental manner.
Ability to enter information into system accurately.
Experience using or ability to learn technology, including virtual meeting software/technology, such as Zoom or Skype.
Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.
Education and Experience:
J.D. Degree
Minimum two (2) years of family law experience.
Licensure and/or Certification: License by the Supreme Court of Texas. Physical Requirements:
Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.
Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.
Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force as needed, at times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.