Staff Attorney

Genesis Women's Shelter & Support • Dallas, TX

6d

About The Position

Genesis Women's Shelter & Support provides safety, shelter, and services for women who have experienced domestic violence and their children. All services are confidential and free of charge. The organization works to end domestic violence by raising awareness. The Staff Attorney will gather evidence, advise clients on their rights, draft legal documents, and conduct civil lawsuits. This role involves interviewing clients and witnesses with cultural competence, representing clients in court, and providing legal assistance in family law matters such as divorces, child custody, protective orders, modifications, and enforcement. The attorney will also design and conduct outreach and community legal education, collaborating with community groups to ensure equitable access to the civil justice system for families impacted by intimate partner violence. The Staff Attorney may supervise legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers. The role requires providing high-quality representation to indigent clients in accordance with Genesis policies and ethical standards. The attorney will manage a caseload of approximately 20 clients needing representation in family law matters in Dallas County, advising and strategizing with clients to achieve their goals, empowering them to participate in the court process, and providing trauma-informed legal representation. The attorney will interpret laws, rulings, and regulations, advocate for clients' legal needs in court, and provide trauma-informed explanations of the family court process. They will advocate for domestic violence survivors and survivor-focused policies, and collaborate with the Legal Program Director and other staff attorneys for effective communication and teamwork. The attorney will also assist other Legal Program attorneys with hearings and court appearances when conflicts arise and attend/conduct speaking engagements in the community about domestic violence and the Genesis Women's Shelter & Support response.

Requirements

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution
• Admission in good standing to Texas State Bar
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant family law experience including divorces, child custody, protective orders, modifications, and enforcement
• Licensed to practice in Texas
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills, including ability to manage a caseload of approx. 20 individual clients and prioritize client-centered and trauma-informed services
• Experience working with marginalized or impacted communities, grassroots organizations, and/or non-governmental organizations
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong computer literacy, research and analysis skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills required

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred

Responsibilities

• Gather evidence
• Advise clients about their rights
• Draft legal documents
• Conduct civil lawsuits
• Interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence
• Represent clients in court
• Provide legal assistance in areas of family law, including but not limited to: divorces, child custody, protective orders, modifications, and enforcement
• Design and carry out outreach and community legal education
• Work closely with the community and community groups to further Genesis mission
• Supervise and coordinate activities of legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers
• Provide high-quality representation to indigent clients
• Carry a caseload of clients needing representation in family law matters in Dallas County
• Advise and strategize with clients about the proper approach to their cases
• Empower the client to participate in the court process against her abuse
• Provide trauma-informed legal representation to the client
• Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for client’s best interest
• Advocate for client’s legal needs in court
• Provide trauma-informed explanations and guidance about the family court process to the client
• Advocate for domestic violence survivors and survivor-focused policies in the family court system
• Work closely with the Legal Program Director and other staff attorneys to promote successful communication and collaboration
• Assist other Legal Program attorneys with their hearings, drafting, court appearances (when other attorney has a conflict)
• Attend and eventually conduct speaking engagements within the community about domestic violence, related topics and the GWSS response

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level