Disaster Legal Fellow

Indiana Legal Services•Indianapolis, IN

7h•$57,425 - $75,535•Hybrid

About The Position

The disaster legal fellow will work collaboratively to establish a statewide disaster and emergency legal response plan and build networks with disaster response agencies and organizations in partnership with a disaster legal fellow hosted by another legal service provider (Pro Bono Indiana). Both of these positions are funded by the Indiana Bar Foundation. The ILS legal fellow will also work to integrate Indiana’s network of legal aid organizations into the existing network of disaster response efforts and will represent clients in matters including housing, foreclosure, consumer, and public benefits matters, which are among the types of cases that arise from disasters and emergencies. This is a two-year fellowship. The fellow will work under the supervision of the Managing Attorney of the office for which they are assigned.

Requirements

Dedicated to the mission of Indiana Legal Services.
Licensed to practice law in Indiana within the last 3 years or less or ability to be licensed promptly is required.
Ability to travel as needed to perform job responsibilities both in-state and out-of-state.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Background, experience, or interest in disaster preparedness or disaster response is preferred.
Experience with significant writing projects and planning are preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead efforts to create a statewide legal response plan for disasters, emergencies, and other crises including research on other states’ plans and relevant academic literature and meeting with disaster and emergency response agencies, legal aid providers and other relevant entities. The fellow will be the primary drafter of the state legal response plan and will present the plan at a future Indiana Civil Legal Aid Conference.
Work with disaster preparedness agencies and other legal partners to embed legal response as part of Indiana’s statewide disaster response planning and ensure an appropriate legal component in disaster and emergency response.
Meet with disaster and emergency responders across the state to foster knowledge of legal response to disasters and emergencies and build relationships with ILS.
Collaborate on the development of training materials for legal aid staff and pro bono volunteers and systems for recruitment and engagement of volunteers.
Build partnerships with state and local bar associations, pro bono attorneys and law firms to marshal and prepare resources for disaster and emergency response.
Assist with design and deployment of a justice bus to be used by Pro Bono Indiana to deliver mobile legal services and outreach to communities affected by disasters and emergencies.
Provide legal advice and representation to clients facing the types of legal problems that arise in response to disasters and emergencies including housing, foreclosure, consumer law, and public benefits.
Comply with all LSC and grant requirements and all ILS policies and procedures.