Housing Staff Attorney

SIGN ON BONUS! READ BELOW!

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 Honoree, Orlando Sentinel’s 2022 Best Workplaces Honoree, and a SHRM Mental 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
• 100% employer-paid health, dental, life, and disability insurance, plus vision coverage at minimal employee cost
• 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 fulfill the following position:

Housing Law Staff Attorney (Marion, Inverness, Lake, and Hernando)

OVERVIEW 

Community Legal Services is seeking a Housing Law Staff Attorney for our dynamic, non-profit law firm.  The Housing Law Staff Attorney 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 Regulating the Florida Bar.

RESPONSIBILITES

1. Determining client eligibility for legal services in accordance with program policies and procedures.
2. Frequently attending hearings, trials, mediations, and other court proceedings on behalf of eligible clients.
3. Identifying legal needs of the low-income community and developing legal educational programs to address those needs.
4. Supervising paralegals, legal assistants, and other subordinates in all aspects of their work.
5. Developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with bar associations (including regularly attending bar meetings), bar leaders, legislators and other political officials and other community and non-profit organizations to assist in resource development. 
6. Recruiting and providing services for private attorney involvement in CLS’s pro bono programs (which includes co-counseling).
7. The candidate in this role is expected to demonstrate the ability to perform complex litigation in a highly competent and efficient manner through use of advanced advocacy skills, as shown by having significant responsibility in a broad range of work, including federal court cases, appellate level cases, and other complex civil proceedings (i.e., jury trials, litigation involving impact or novel issues, novel forums, multi-day or complex multi-party trials, relief by extraordinary writ, etc.).
8. Perform advanced legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, etc.
9. After two years of legal practice is expected to participate in impact advocacy.
10. This is 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 within or outside the CLS 12-county service area. 

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. Background and Experience

1. Must be a member in good standing with The Florida Bar.  Bilingual (English/Spanish) highly preferred but not required.
2. Must possess at least three years of litigation experience.

1. Must have a demonstrable commitment to understanding and addressing issues of low-income and vulnerable constituents.
2. Must maintain professional and legal knowledge through reading and continuing education.
3. Must demonstrate high attention to detail, ability to handle and manage multiple projects and deadlines at once and deal with competing priorities. 
4. Must have well developed skills in speaking and writing, including the ability to listen, negotiate, problem-solve, advise, and generally be accessible to diverse audiences.
5. Must be bondable.
6. Must have access to internet and be computer literate using Word, Excel, Microsoft 365 Suite, and Adobe PDF programs.
7. Must have a valid Florida automobile license, use of own vehicle, and proof of insurance necessary.

3. Physical Requirements 

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

STARTING SALARY: $75,000, more with experience PLUS a 10% SIGN ON BONUS OF THE OFFERED SALARY!!

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 based on 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 list 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 to otherwise balance the workload.