Housing Staff Attorney

Community Legal Services•Ocala, FL

About The Position

Community Legal Services (CLS), a full-service civil legal aid law firm, is seeking a service-minded, mission-driven Housing Law Staff Attorney. The role provides comprehensive legal services to eligible clients in civil and other cases in accordance with CLS’s mission and advocacy principles, program guidelines, ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services, and the Florida Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. The position serves Marion, Inverness, Lake, and Hernando and is full-time, with scheduled and flexible 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. The attorney is expected to handle complex litigation competently and efficiently, including matters involving federal courts, appeals, jury trials, impact or novel issues, novel forums, complex or multi-party trials, and extraordinary writs. After two years of legal practice, the attorney is expected to participate in impact advocacy. CLS offers paid holidays and paid time off, employer-paid insurance coverage, retirement matching, attorney student-loan reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, payment of bar dues and CLE credits, and other employee programs and opportunities. Starting salary is $75,000, with more based on experience, plus a 10% sign-on bonus of the offered salary.

Requirements

Membership in good standing with The Florida Bar.
At least three years of litigation experience.
Demonstrated commitment to understanding and addressing issues affecting low-income and vulnerable constituents.
Maintain professional and legal knowledge through reading and continuing education.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and competing priorities.
Well-developed speaking and writing skills, including listening, negotiation, problem-solving, advising, and communication with diverse audiences.
Must be bondable.
Access to the internet and computer literacy, including Word, Excel, Microsoft 365 Suite, and Adobe PDF programs.
Valid Florida automobile license, use of a personal vehicle, and required proof of insurance.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish skills are highly preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Determine client eligibility for legal services in accordance with program policies and procedures.
Frequently attend hearings, trials, mediations, and other court proceedings on behalf of eligible clients.
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 with resource development; regularly attend bar meetings.
Recruit and provide services for private attorney involvement in CLS pro bono programs, including co-counseling.
Perform complex litigation using advanced advocacy skills, including work on federal court cases, appellate cases, and other complex civil proceedings.
Conduct advanced legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, and similar resources.
Participate in impact advocacy after two years of legal practice.
Work scheduled and flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends, as needed for job duties, meetings, and other functions.

Benefits

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