Staff Attorney - Rural Outreach Project

Iowa Legal Aid; Council Bluffs (IA); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

Insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Iowa Legal Aid in Council Bluffs is recruiting two staff attorneys for our Rural Outreach Project, based in our Council Bluffs office. The roles involve providing free legal assistance and education to low-income Iowans, with emphasis on housing, income maintenance, and consumer issues.

Attorneys will travel regularly to rural towns, participate in clinics, and engage in impact advocacy to change systems. Applicants must be licensed in Iowa; Spanish or other language skills are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, collegial environment.
• Licensed to practice law in Iowa or eligible for admission on motion.
• Interest in poverty law and providing a full range of legal services to low-income people.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services in housing, domestic violence, income maintenance, health care, and consumer issues.
• Represent clients in administrative and court settings as needed.
• Engage in outreach through clinics and community events; staff rural outreach and kiosks.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

Law degree (J.D.)

Job description

Iowa Legal Aid is recruiting two staff attorneys for our Rural Outreach Project, based in our Council Bluffs office.

Background:Founded in 1977, Iowa Legal Aid serves clients in all 99 Iowa counties through offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo. Learn more about Iowa Legal Aid atwww.iowalegalaid.org andwww.iowalegalaidfoundation.org .

Staff Attorney Position:Through free legal assistance and community legal education, Staff Attorneys bring hope, dignity, and justice to low-income and other vulnerable Iowans. Legal assistance at Iowa Legal Aid ranges from advice and brief service to full representation before administrative agencies and state and federal trial and appellate courts. In our diverse practice, we prioritize work involving housing, domestic violence, income maintenance, health care, individual rights, and consumer issues to help secure our clients’ most essential needs. Staff attorneys appear in court frequently and serve clients out in the community through expungement and pro se divorce clinics, our Eviction Diversion Project Help Desks, and targeted outreach events.Staff attorneys also play a crucial role in changing systems and achieving justice through impact advocacy.

Rural Outreach Project: The Rural Outreach Project is designed to expand access to justice in rural areas of southwest Iowa, including “legal deserts.” As part of the Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative and with special funding from the Charles Lakin Foundation, project attorneys will focus on providing legal services in 51 small towns in Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, Page, and Pottawattamie counties. Project attorneys will staff weekly legal clinics in rural communities, will participate in rural outreach, and may help support a legal kiosk pilot project. Regular travel by car to counties served by the project is expected.

Qualifications:Applicants must be law school graduates licensed to practice law in Iowa, eligible for admission on motion, or available for the next scheduled bar examination. Prior legal experience is preferred. Applicants must possess a demonstrated interest in poverty law and have a strong commitment to providing a full range of legal services to low-income people. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collegial environment are required. Individuals with Spanish or other language skills are encouraged to apply.Because of the travel involved, applicants must have the ability to operate a motor vehicle and possess a valid driver’s license.

Salary/Benefits: Current entry level salary is $61,800. Non-entry level salaries depend on experience. Excellent fringe benefits are available, including a generous leave, insurance, and retirement package. Iowa is a great place to live and to work for a non-profit, consistently ranking in the top 10 states for affordability.Seehttps://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability . Our Council Bluffs office is an easy commute from Omaha.

Opening/Closing Date:Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Iowa Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Join Our Team

Let’s work together to build an Iowa where there is equal access to justice for all.