Veterans Staff Attorney

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 64,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

PTO 24 days

Health benefits

403B match

Bar Dues & CLE

Tuition reimbursement

PSLF eligibility

Wellness events

Pet insurance

Career growth

Job summary

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida seeks a Veterans Staff Attorney to deliver comprehensive civil legal services to eligible clients and supervise cases within CLS’s mission.

Responsibilities include client intakes, legal research, and advocacy in housing, veterans benefits, and related matters while collaborating with Veterans organizations and community partners to expand access to justice.

Qualifications

• Admitted to the Florida Bar in good standing.
• 3–5 years of legal experience.
• Experience serving low-income or vulnerable clients preferred.
• Experience with Veterans benefits, housing, or public services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interact with clients, conduct intakes, provide legal assistance from brief advice to full representation.
• Research and interpret laws, rulings, and regulations; prepare and review writings for courts or agencies.
• Represent and advise clients in civil matters including Veterans benefits, housing, landlord/tenant, and criminal records issues.
• Develop and maintain a referral process between subagencies and CLS.
• Identify legal needs of the low-income community and develop educational programs.

Skills

Legal experience

Veterans benefits

Housing experience

Client interviewing

Research skills

Oral advocacy

Education

Florida bar admission

Job description

Be a part of an organization making a difference in the Central Florida community! As an Orlando Business Journal’s 2021 Best Places to Work 2022 Best Workplaces Honoree, and aSHRMMental Health Ally, Community Legal Services (CLS) is a full service civil legal aid law firm that promotes equal access to justice, specifically for the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

CLS offers:

• 15 paid holidays and 24 days of paid time off
• Excellent physical/mental health, vision, and benefits (With 95% of benefits paid for by company)
• 100% Coverage with Dental Benefits, Life Insurance, Long/Short Term Disability
• 100% 403B match after 1 year of employment (5%)
• CLS pays Bar Dues and CLE Credits
• Student loan reimbursement for Attorneys
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Ability to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Fantastic work-life balance
• Various opportunities for upward mobility into leadership/more advanced roles
• Pet Insurance
• Wellness Committee dedicated to employee morale, with events such as company wide retreats, activities, and challenges!

CLS is currently searching for a service-minded, mission driven individual to fill the following position:

Veterans Staff Attorney

OVERVIEW:

Reports to Director of Advocacy, Senior Manager/ Manager or designee. Provides comprehensive legal services to eligible clients in civil and other cases in accordance with the program’s mission and principles of advocacy, other program guidelines, the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services, and the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Regular client interaction including completing intakes, conducting interviews, and providing legal assistance ranging from brief advice and counsel to full representation.
2. Research and interpret laws, rulings, and regulations applicable to cases assigned as well as prepare and review legal writings for the court or administrative agencies.
3. Representing and advising clients in a variety of civil law matters affecting clients’ housing and incomes, including, but not limited to, Veterans Benefits and discharge upgrades, landlord/tenant issues, driver’s license reinstatement, criminal records sealing and expungement, debt collection, and child support.
4. Developing and maintaining a referral process between subagencies and CLS.
5. Identifying legal needs of the low-income community and developing legal educational programs to address those needs.
6. Conducting trainings for and outreach with community organization’s managers, staff, subagencies, and volunteersand supporting the firm’s overall mission.
7. Collaborating with Veterans’ organizations including VA facilities, Vet Centers for combat veterans, homeless shelters, Veterans’ courts, and Stand Downs for homeless Veterans.
8. Cultivating and coordinating effective working relationships with professionals and community-based organizations, to assure CLS’s positive impact on its clients served and create awareness.
9. Working a full-time position with the ability to work both scheduled and flexible work hours, including some evenings/weekends, based on business needs to perform duties, attend meetings and/or other functions throughout the counties served by CLS.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Commitment:

1. Demonstrating commitment to promoting the mission, vision, and values of CLS.
2. Unwavering dedication to high-quality legal programs, fiscal strength, and organizational integrity.

2. Qualifications:

1. Must be admitted to practice law in Florida in good standing.
2. Minimum of three to five years of legal experience.
3. Functional experience working or volunteering with low-income and/or vulnerable clients and communities preferred.
4. Previous experience working or volunteering with Veterans and/or military families preferred.
5. Experience in public or Veterans benefits, housing, human services setting, or in community/grant-funded programs preferred.
6. The successful candidate will have a highly approachable presentation, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to engage a diverse constituency while managing a full caseload effectively

3. Physical Requirements

1. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
2. Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs at times.

STARTING SALARY: $75,000, more with experience

GENERAL STATEMENT

CLS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We value a diverse workforce and the promotion of inclusive culture at all levels.

CLS does not discriminate against any employee or qualified applicant for employment from all qualified individuals on the basis of age, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex, disability, socio-economic position, religion, political belief, protected genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal or State law.

The statements contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.