Poverty Law Attorney
About The Position
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a community-based non-profit legal aid agency governed by a local Board of Directors. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. The organization currently has offices in Asheville, Brevard, Burnsville, Cashiers, Hendersonville, Highlands, Marshall, Morganton, Newland, and Rutherfordton. With over 120 dedicated staff, including more than 30 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 200 volunteer attorneys, the program provides free services to nearly 28,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public benefits, domestic violence prevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law. PLS is seeking a full-time N.C. licensed attorney to handle general poverty law cases primarily in the areas of housing law, including eviction defense, and domestic violence prevention, including domestic and family law cases. Legal aid experience preferred. Passion for promoting justice and overcoming barriers facing low-income people, being a creative and zealous attorney and a team-player and demonstrated commitment to achieving lasting results for clients and low-income communities are all important. The Poverty Law attorney position advocates for clients in our service region with a variety of legal issues, balancing cases that focus on landlord/tenant law, domestic violence law and other poverty law areas as needed.
Requirements
- N.C. licensed attorney
- Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people and communities.
- Demonstrated skills at socio-economic and cultural sensitivity and ability to assist upset or ill people.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams and independently.
- Ability to work with low-income clients and communities within a multi-ethnic/ multi-cultural environment.
- Ability to effectively collaborate with coworkers and clients face to face and in meeting settings.
- Possess valid driver’s license.
Nice To Haves
- Legal aid experience preferred.
- Fluency in Spanish would be an asset.
Responsibilities
- Commitment to PLS’ mission, values and vision.
- Represent and advise clients in judicial and administrative hearings in landlord/tenant, domestic violence and family law, consumer, public benefits, community economic development, and other poverty law areas as needed.
- Work in and travel to rural locations and attend court.
- Conduct client interviews with trauma-informed approach; advise and represent clients in Small Claims, District, Superior courts, and administrative proceedings as appropriate. (This may include representation, preparation for self-representation, obtaining continuances for assessment, and referring cases to other attorneys.)
- Document all work and communications in Legal Server case management software.
- Organize and conduct outreach and educational presentations.
- Establish branch office(s) within service area.
- Develop and maintain community relationships including other non-profit agencies, government officials, government employees, community leaders and others.
- Travel within our service area and also to meetings or conferences in other parts of NC.
- Adhere to program priorities and case handling policies, procedures, and standards of practice, as well as the highest professional and ethical standards.
- Keep abreast of developments in the law and disseminate information to staff, volunteer attorneys and the public.
- Work with volunteers, including volunteer attorneys, on a regular basis.
- Assist in fundraising and outreach in coordination with PLS Development Team.
Benefits
- medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage the 1st of the month following the start date.
- PLS pays 100% of the Employee and 50% of the Dependent Cost for Aetna Medical and Dental coverage.
- PLS pays 50% of the Employee Coverage Cost for Aetna Vision coverage.
- PLS pays 100% of Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage, Life Insurance Coverage of 5x base salary + an additional $15,000 Life & AD&D Coverage.
- 401k Retirement Plan after 6 months of employment.
- Pet Insurance
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Bereavement Leave
- 13.5 Company Holidays
- 22 Paid Leave Days
- Paid Sabbatical Leave for eligible staff
- Employee Assistance Program for entire household
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
