Disaster Relief Staff Attorney

Bay Area Legal Services; Ruskin (FL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Bay Area Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm serving the Tampa Bay area for over 50 years, seeks a Disaster Relief Staff Attorney. This full-time role involves delivering targeted legal services to disaster-impacted individuals across a 13-county region, with a mix of in-office and remote work (3 days in office, 2 days remote) in Ruskin, Florida.

You will work with a team to meet grant deliverables, engage the community through outreach, provide client counseling, prepare legal instruments, and

Qualifications

• JD and Florida Bar licensed in good standing.
• Minimum 1 year of practice as an attorney.
• Ability to collaborate in a team and engage with communities.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Staff disaster relief hotline intake and provide appropriate legal services.
• Assess eligibility and refer to legal aid partners as needed.
• Counsel clients, advise on legal options, and coordinate with partners.
• Prepare pleadings, briefs, and related legal documents.
• Represent clients in hearings before courts and tribunals when required.
• Engage with communities through outreach events and presentations.
• Travel as necessary and align work with grant deliverables.

Skills

Team collaboration

Multi-tasking

Communication

Confidentiality

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD), Florida Bar licensed and in good standing

Job description

Full-time

Description

Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Are you passionate about helping others who are in need across different groups? Do you value work life balance? If you answer yes to these questions, Bay Area Legal Services may be the workplace for you!

Bay Area Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm serving the Tampa Bay area for over 50 years. We assist low-income residents, veterans, seniors, children, domestic violence survivors, and many more.

Our Mission: Providing the highest quality legal counsel by:

• Assisting individuals and nonprofit groups with limited access to legal services
• Resolving the legal problems of our clients
• Preserving the independence, hope, and dignity of those we serve.

Position Title: Disaster Relief Staff Attorney (Full-Time)

Office Location: Ruskin, FL-Hybrid (3 days in office & 2 days remote)

Position Summary: This is professional position. This position will involve the delivery of targeted legal services, from brief services to extended, to individuals and families impacted by disasters in a designated 13-county service region within Florida. In addition to direct client legal services, this position will involve a sizeable component of community engagement through staffing outreach events and giving presentations to community audiences and partner organizations. This position will require collaboration with team members to ensure timely fulfillment of grant deliverables. Applicants should expect to travel for activities as necessary. Because disaster applicant influx may vary significantly, focus may at times shift to other job duties as the need arises.

Illustrative Duties

• Staffing statewide disaster relief hotline, including conducting client intake and providing appropriate legal service based on client need and eligibility.
• Interviewing applicants and determining if established legal services eligibility requirements are satisfied.
• Counseling and advising clients, referring applicants to appropriate legal aid partners or other community resources for other services needed.
• Preparing legal instruments, pleadings, trial briefs, oral arguments, and abstracts of legal research related to the case. Conducting necessary correspondence relating to services rendered.
• Participating in hearings before various courts and administrative tribunals on behalf of clients.
• Participating in required community engagement through attending focused outreach events and delivering presentations on disaster legal services.
• Supervised by Team Leader and other senior staff but operating substantially on an independent basis.
• Coordinate with Team Leader to ensure compliance with grant requirements and deliverables.
• Performing related work and other duties as required and assigned by the Team Leader.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctorate (JD), Florida Bar licensed and in good standing with the Bar.
• Minimum 1 year experience as a licensed practicing attorney.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, work well, and effectively contribute within a team environment.
• Ability to multi-task and adapt to new and changing environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality for sensitive information.
• Detail-oriented and well-organized, with ability to establish priorities and track projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to the provision of high-quality legal services to individuals with limited access to legal services.
• Comfort with community engagement, including staffing clinics, giving presentations, and acting as a program ambassador in public settings.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in general legal practice including serving low-income clients or as a law intern with a legal services program.
• An ability to work closely with others and a willingness to accept supervision.
• Sympathetic understanding of the social, economic, as well as legal problems of individuals with limited access to legal services.
• Knowledge of Spanish or other language proficiency.
• Experience with disaster relief legal services, including familiarity with disaster-related legal issues and community outreach focused on disaster survivors.