Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Staff Attorney is a full-time position in the Standing with Our Neighbors™ Program (“SWON”) of Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) in Atlanta, Georgia. Standing With Our Neighbors is part of the Safe and Stable Homes project that addresses housing instability in eight (8) Atlanta Public Schools neighborhoods. The position is based in Atlanta Public School’s Carver Cluster. AVLF is devoting considerable volunteer resources to improving living conditions and housing stability in the target neighborhoods to reduce student enrollment turnover and enhance student attendance and performance. The initiative focuses on outreach and tenant education, close coordination with community partners, advocacy, and direct legal representation of tenants. Specifically, AVLF’s legal advocacy aims to halt evictions and resolve underlying issues – including heading off evictions before they are filed, forcing repair of deplorable conditions, securing release for clients from a dishonored lease, and/or securing compensation for lost property and other damages. Legal services will be accessed through AVLF’s existing programs and clinics.

The Staff Attorney will have a small individual caseload of housing cases and assist pro bono volunteer attorneys with cases. Additionally, the Staff Attorney will engage in community lawyering for the selected neighborhood, which entails community education efforts, training for volunteer firms, and building and maintaining relationships with community partners/organizations alongside Community Advocates.

The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to advocating for and working alongside tenants and community organizations to fight transiency in the school system.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The Staff Attorney will work closely as a team member with Community Advocates to lead the initiative. Specific duties include:

• Representing tenants in evictions and affirmative cases against landlords, including researching and drafting pleadings and motions, engaging in discovery, negotiating resolutions with opposing parties, appearing for formal and informal hearings and case conferences, assessing appeal potential, etc.
• Working closely with families and in tandem with volunteer attorneys to prevent neighborhood displacement and ensure safe and healthy living conditions. Collecting and evaluating evidence; recruiting, training, coordinating, advising, and supervising volunteer attorneys providing pro bono representation to tenants; conducting legal research for volunteer attorneys.
• Working closely with Community Advocates to host “know your rights" sessions to educate families on effective repairs, avoiding evictions, the right to safe and habitable housing, and issues such as indoor air quality, working with Community Advocate to host legal clinics and community tours.
• Engaging in relationship-building with partners.
• Serving as a program liaison to the media when requested and available.
• Taking a leadership role in partnering with community organizations and other non-profits, engaging in reciprocal services to further AVLF’s leadership and credibility in the community. Remaining highly visible in the legal community.
• Serving as a liaison to community partners, including spending significant time embedded in schools and maintaining “office hours” to meet with families, canvassing neighborhoods, and attending community events.
• Closely coordinating services with school social workers and other school staff.
• Maintaining accurate records of client services.
• Attending regular meetings with school staff and within the surrounding community.
• Conducting “refresher” trainings for volunteer attorneys on legal topics, professionalism, ethics, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

JD degree and a license to practice law in Georgia, with a minimum of two (2) years of relevant legal experience. Previous litigation experience representing tenants and/or representing low-income clients is a strong preference.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and legal services to low-income individuals and/or communities, whether through pro bono work or otherwise.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, including experience and comfort with public speaking. Proficiency or fluency in Spanish is not required but will be given a strong preference.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, and equally strong analytical skills.
• Experience with volunteer recruitment and management.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds, including communicating with our diverse constituencies – from law firm partners to potential clients.
• Willingness to accept constructive feedback and ask questions when necessary.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and problem-solve in a demanding and changing environment.
• Takes initiative and demonstrates sound judgment.
• Comfortable learning and working with new technology and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel is a plus.

Working Conditions:

A fast-paced hybrid environment with work requiring multi-tasking, prioritizing, and strong communication skills. May spend time traveling to and from meetings with clients, community partners, and AVLF colleagues. There may also be required bending and prolonged sitting and/or standing.

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The salary range for this position is $68,000-$72,000 ; however, compensation will be based on experience, skills, and qualifications.