Housing Staff Attorney

Community Legal Services•Ocala, FL

About The Position

Community Legal Services (CLS), a full-service civil legal aid law firm, seeks a mission-driven Housing Law Staff Attorney to provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients in civil and other cases. The role serves Marion, Inverness, Lake, and Hernando and follows CLS’s mission and advocacy principles, program guidelines, ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services, and Florida Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. The attorney is expected to handle complex litigation competently and efficiently, including matters involving federal courts, appeals, jury trials, novel or impact issues, multi-day or complex multi-party trials, and extraordinary writs. The position also involves advanced legal research and, after two years of legal practice, participation in impact advocacy. This is a full-time position with scheduled and flexible work hours, including some evenings and weekends as business needs require. Duties may involve meetings or other functions within or outside CLS’s 12-county service area.

Requirements

Be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.
Have at least three years of litigation experience.
Demonstrate commitment to understanding and addressing issues affecting low-income and vulnerable constituents.
Maintain professional and legal knowledge through reading and continuing education.
Demonstrate strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and competing priorities.
Have well-developed speaking and writing skills, including the ability to listen, negotiate, problem-solve, advise, and communicate accessibly with diverse audiences.
Be bondable.
Have internet access and computer literacy, including Word, Excel, Microsoft 365 Suite, and Adobe PDF programs.
Have a valid Florida driver's license, use of a personal vehicle, and necessary proof of insurance.
Be able to sit at a desk and work on a computer for prolonged periods and lift up to 25 pounds at times.
Demonstrate commitment to CLS's mission, vision, and values and to high-quality legal programs, fiscal strength, and organizational integrity.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Determine client eligibility for legal services in accordance with program policies and procedures.
Frequently represent eligible clients at hearings, trials, mediations, and other court proceedings.
Identify legal needs in the low-income community and develop legal education programs to address them.
Supervise paralegals, legal assistants, and other subordinates in all aspects of their work.
Develop and maintain working relationships with bar associations, bar leaders, legislators, political officials, and community and nonprofit organizations to assist in resource development.
Recruit and provide services for private attorney involvement in CLS pro bono programs, including co-counseling.
Handle complex litigation, including federal court cases, appellate cases, jury trials, impact or novel issues, novel forums, multi-day or complex multi-party trials, and relief by extraordinary writ.
Perform advanced legal research using tools such as Westlaw and LexisNexis.
Participate in impact advocacy after two years of legal practice.

Benefits

15 paid holidays and 24 days of paid time off.
Employer-paid health, dental, life, and disability insurance, plus vision coverage at minimal employee cost.
100% 403(b) match after one year of employment, up to 5%.
Payment of attorney bar dues and CLE credits.
Student loan reimbursement for attorneys.
Tuition reimbursement.
Ability to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
Work-life balance.
Opportunities for advancement into leadership or more advanced roles.
Pet insurance.
Wellness Committee activities, including company-wide retreats, activities, and challenges.
10% sign-on bonus of the offered salary.