Staff Attorney

U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of CT; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association in Boston, MA is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney. The role supports the ERLI Call Center, leads the Medical-Legal Partnership and Wills Units, and works closely with private bar volunteers to expand access to justice.

Hybrid work requires in-person attendance two days per week. The ideal candidate has a law degree, Massachusetts bar admission, at least two years of substantive practice, and strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Law degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to and good standing in the Massachusetts bar.
• Minimum two years of substantive experience practicing law.
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively by phone, electronically, and in person.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with colleagues and external partners.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
• Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in Greater Boston.

Responsibilities

• Provide attorney support to the ERLI Call Center three days per week, including responding to substantive legal questions, providing guidance to intake staff, and reviewing intake cases for appropriate disposition and closure.
• Manage and provide legal oversight of the Medical‑Legal Partnership Unit.
• Manage and provide legal oversight of the Wills Unit.
• Review MLP cases weekly and determine appropriate case disposition and closure
• Identify appropriate cases for referral to volunteer attorneys
• Prepare cases for referral and lead weekly case review meetings with pro bono partners
• Recruit, train, mentor, and support volunteer attorneys from the private bar
• Provide substantive legal guidance and support to VLP staff and volunteer attorneys
• Participate in relevant legal aid coalitions, working groups, and collaborative initiatives
• Maintain a limited caseload and represent clients in civil matters within VLP’s priority practice areas
• Perform other duties, projects, and responsibilities as assigned

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Public service mindset

Education

Law degree from an accredited law school

Massachusetts bar admission

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

POSITION: Staff Attorney

DAYS/HOURS: 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday plus occasional evening trainings/events

REPORTS TO: Betsy Gwin, Deputy Director

UNIT(S): Medical Legal Partnership, ERLI Call Center & Wills

LOCATION: 7 Winthrop Square, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA

SALARY: Starting at $70,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience

* Hybrid- This position is currently hybrid, necessitating in person office attendance for 2 days weekly

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) is a non-profit legal services organization that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Greater Boston, primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys.

We are seeking a full‑time attorney who is committed to serving low‑income clients and working with the private bar to expand access to justice. The Staff Attorney will provide support at our Eastern Region Legal Intake (ERLI) Call Center and lead our Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) and Wills Units. ERLI provides callers with information, legal advice, and referrals and conducts intakes in legal aid priority cases. The MLP Unit is an innovative partnership between VLP, healthcare providers and pro bono partners. The Wills Unit connects low‑income clients to pro bono legal assistance with drafting wills, healthcare proxies, and powers of attorney.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Law degree from an accredited law school
• Admission to and good standing in the Massachusetts bar
• Minimum two years of substantive experience practicing law
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively by phone, electronically, and in person
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with colleagues and external partners
• Ability to quickly learn and retain new information, including computer, case management, and phone systems
• Ability to effectively engage with private bar to recruit, train and mentor volunteer attorneys
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods
• Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in Greater Boston

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE / ABILITIES/SKILLS:

• Experience with Legal Server case management software
• Experience in one or more of VLP’s practice areas
• Experience serving low-income populations and communities
• Experience recruiting and supporting volunteer attorneys
• Experience supervising legal work of others

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Maintain substantive expertise in at least two of VLP’s practice areas
• Provide attorney support to the ERLI Call Center three days per week, including responding to substantive legal questions, providing guidance to intake staff, and reviewing intake cases for appropriate disposition and closure
• Manage and provide legal oversight of the Medical‑Legal Partnership Unit
• Manage and provide legal oversight of the Wills Unit
• Review MLP cases weekly and determine appropriate case disposition and closure
• Identify appropriate cases for referral to volunteer attorneys
• Prepare cases for referral and lead weekly case review meetings with pro bono partners
• Recruit, train, mentor, and support volunteer attorneys from the private bar
• Provide substantive legal guidance and support to VLP staff and volunteer attorneys
• Participate in relevant legal aid coalitions, working groups, and collaborative initiatives
• Maintain a limited caseload and represent clients in civil matters within VLP’s priority practice areas
• Perform other duties, projects, and responsibilities as assigned

Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our ideal candidates are respectful of an inclusive work environment. VLP strives to ensure that those working in our organization reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. VLP encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions.