Staff Attorney- Statewide Expunction

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas•Dallas, TX

18d•$73,815•Hybrid

About The Position

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides high-quality, free civil legal services to low‑income individuals and families in 114 counties across North and West Texas. Our mission is to ensure equal justice for all by addressing the civil legal needs of vulnerable Texans through direct representation, advocacy, and community collaboration. LANWT seeks a dynamic, self-starting attorney who has vision, initiative, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law to fill a staff attorney position within its Statewide Expunction Project. In addition to providing daily representation in civil legal matters, the successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to identifying and taking advantage of opportunities for strategic advocacy and to engaging in outreach to and collaboration with low-income individuals, including community groups that are made up of or serve the indigent.

Requirements

Licensed to practice law in Texas
Fluent in Spanish (verbal and written)
Strong understanding of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Texas Rules of Evidence
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to manage a caseload, think strategically, and develop and implement projects
Ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language
Ability to manage emotions and interact calmly and professionally with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and judges
Strong work ethic, accountability, and professionalism
Reliable attendance
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences
Ability to travel occasionally for work‑related activities

Nice To Haves

Prior experience handling expunctions and nondisclosures
Prior experience handling litigation or contested matters
Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving low‑income individuals

Responsibilities

Gather evidence, advise clients about their rights, draft legal documents, and conduct civil lawsuits.
Interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence, and handle other tasks in representing clients.
Represent clients in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies of government.
Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for clients and the client community.
Provide legal assistance in areas of general civil law, including but not limited to employment, housing, family, foreclosure prevention, consumer, probate, special education, social security, public benefits, bankruptcy, and landlord-tenant law.
Design and carry out outreach and community legal education.
Work closely with the community and low-income community groups to further LANWT’s mission of reducing poverty by providing equitable access to the civil justice system.
Supervise and coordinate activities of legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers.
Handle a caseload involving substantial litigation and other justice-related advocacy.
Periodically attend evening legal clinics.
Devise and participate in community legal education programs and outreach offered by LANWT.
Provide high-quality representation to indigent clients in accordance with LANWT’s policies and procedures and with an attorney’s responsibilities under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and the American Bar Association’s Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services to the Poor.