Associate Attorney

Utah Legal Services • Salt Lake City, UT

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

Our mission at Utah Legal Services (ULS) is to provide high-quality civil legal aid without cost to people who are unable to afford legal representation or are facing disadvantages, ensuring meaningful access to justice, and promoting education, stability, safety, and protection. Equal Justice Under Law is one of our nation’s most basic principles. However, economic realities often leave these promises unfulfilled. This is where ULS comes in. Since our inception as a nonprofit in 1976, we remain committed to making equal justice a reality by providing free services, in civil legal matters. 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.

Requirements

• Must be able to pass a Utah Criminal Record background check.
• Juris Doctor Degree from a U.S. accredited law school.
• Admission and good standing with the Utah State Bar (or the ability and plan to get one as soon as possible).

Nice To Haves

• Work experience in one of the following legal areas is preferred: domestic law, housing, consumer protection, debt defense, public benefits, Native American law, or migrant worker law.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of diverse people, ability, culture, and ethnic background to maintain good relationships.

Responsibilities

• Conducting case management, client support, legal research, litigation or administrative work, and overseeing the legal work of an assigned paralegal(s).
• Use the ULS case management system, LegalServer, to bill time, manage clients and track case related tasks and deadlines for timely communications, services, and representation.
• Follow case handling protocols and best practices provided and followed by the Subject Matter Chair overseeing your cases.
• Manage an average caseload of 60-150 cases based on the level of service and area of law, as assigned.
• Regularly and strategically review case status and tasks, updating as needed.
• Actively work with paralegal to timely move the case toward finality.
• Communicate with clients to gather facts, prepare case summaries, and evaluate the merits of assigned cases.
• Educate clients about the laws, rules, and legal processes related to their matter. This includes explaining potential outcomes, setting reasonable expectations, establishing goals and next steps, and strategizing about the case.
• Advocate by giving clients advice, brief services, and representation to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities, while keeping them informed and updated on developments in their case.
• Prepare clients for depositions, interviews, examinations, hearings, and other case-related meetings.
• Research using relevant legal sites and platforms such as Xchange, Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), Electronic Records Request (ERE), the Utah State Court and District Court websites, governmental agencies, and others to request documents, research, and aid in case progression.
• Review relevant statutes, rules, regulations, caselaw, and secondary sources to assist in developing case strategies.
• Prepare pro se answers and motions for clients who are not eligible for extended representation through ULS.
• Review paralegal work for accuracy and compliance with all rules, laws, and professional responsibilities. This includes compliance with grantees and regulatory governing entities.
• Prepare and submit court or administrative agency documents to the court, agency, and appropriate parties as directed by your supervising attorney.
• Explore possible settlements through negotiations as approved by the client to mitigate harm and improve your client’s situation.
• Attend meetings, mediations, hearings, trials and any other necessary client-related proceedings to advocate for your client.
• Attend ULS staff meetings, training sessions, and case reviews.
• Participate in Community Engagement activities such as clinics, community education, and outreach events, as invited.
• Complete appropriate continuing education and certification requirements such as continuing legal education (CLEs).
• Maintain good standing with regulatory entities including the Utah State Bar.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Salary: $80,000 - $83,200

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level