Family Law and Victim Rights Attorney - Bangor

Pine Tree Legal Assistance•Bangor, ME

12d•$71,920 - $108,920•Hybrid

About The Position

The Family Law/Victim Rights attorney provides high-quality, low-barrier holistic legal services to victims in Maine, based out of the Bangor office of PTLA. The attorney provides legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and stalking primarily in Penobscot, Hancock, and Washington Counties as well as Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy tribal reservations. The attorney will be expected to provide occasional coverage for Family Law and Victim Rights (FLVR) cases in other areas of Maine on an ‘as needed’ basis. The attorney will use case-referral systems and case acceptance protocols currently used within Pine Tree’s FLVR unit. The attorney is part of a statewide team specializing in interpersonal violence cases and works closely with staff at local domestic violence resource centers and sexual assault support centers and child advocacy centers. The attorney will work under the direction of the Family Law and Victim Rights supervisor and collaboratively within the Unit to provide the highest quality legal representation in appropriate cases. Legal advocacy will range from advice and limited representation to full legal representation in the cases in which representation will have the greatest impact. The project will focus primarily on protection from abuse, family matters, and education cases, although Pine Tree uses a holistic approach to provide comprehensive assistance to families that can include screening and representation or referral for related housing, consumer, benefits, and other common civil legal needs. The attorney will assess and triage cases in consultation with the FLVR Managing Attorney and team members, provide consultations to partner agency staff in appropriate case-related issues, consult and collaborate with other service providers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, the Department of Health and Human Services, and others involved in the community response team, and put in place systems to most effectively address the holistic legal needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. As appropriate, the attorney may also participate in working groups and coalitions focused on improving the systems that address issues relevant to domestic and sexual violence survivors, child sexual abuse survivors, and victims of sex trafficking and stalking. The attorney is also responsible for community engagement and networking to strengthen Pine Tree’s reputation and access to legal services by eligible individuals, consistent with other work and time commitments. These activities can include the provision of outreach and/or trainings to community agencies and other groups that serve victims of domestic or sexual violence, or survivors of stalking. The Family Law/Victim Rights (FLVR) attorney will have the opportunity to collaborate and consult with other Pine Tree staff whose expertise covers a range of relevant areas, including public benefits, consumer law, education law, and housing, and provide appropriate referrals internally to other Pine Tree projects. Dependent upon the needs of the local office, and resources available, the attorney may also be responsible for providing direct service in related civil legal matters. Frequent travel related to court and other work activities (including trainings) is required and, on occasion, evening or weekend time may also be required to attend trainings. The position may involve some client meetings at locations outside the office, as well as travel to other courts and offices of partner agencies as appropriate to provide low-barrier legal representation.

Requirements

Must be admitted to the practice of law in Maine or be eligible for temporary practice under Maine Bar Admission Rule 11C while working at Pine Tree and obtaining permanent licensure in Maine.
Applicant must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the state of Maine.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Previous litigation experience.

Responsibilities

Provides high-quality, low-barrier holistic legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and stalking.
Provides legal services primarily in Penobscot, Hancock, and Washington Counties, as well as Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy tribal reservations.
Provides occasional coverage for Family Law and Victim Rights (FLVR) cases in other areas of Maine on an ‘as needed’ basis.
Uses case-referral systems and case acceptance protocols.
Works closely with staff at local domestic violence resource centers, sexual assault support centers, and child advocacy centers.
Works under the direction of the Family Law and Victim Rights supervisor and collaboratively within the Unit.
Provides legal advocacy ranging from advice and limited representation to full legal representation.
Focuses primarily on protection from abuse, family matters, and education cases, with a holistic approach to include housing, consumer, and benefits legal needs.
Assesses and triages cases in consultation with the FLVR Managing Attorney and team members.
Provides consultations to partner agency staff.
Consults and collaborates with other service providers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Participates in working groups and coalitions focused on improving systems for survivors.
Responsible for community engagement and networking to strengthen Pine Tree’s reputation and access to legal services.
Provides outreach and/or trainings to community agencies and other groups that serve victims.
Collaborates and consults with other Pine Tree staff and provides internal referrals.
May be responsible for providing direct service in related civil legal matters, dependent upon local office needs and resources.