Staff Attorney

PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION: 

To oversee the Law School Center for Social Justice’s legal work and, in particular, the administration of pro bono programming, including the Center’s Consumer Debt Initiative (CDI), the CORI Sealing and Expungement project, and the Gender Affirming project (GAIP) . This work will include the development and management of the CDI Lawyer for the Day program, ongoing client casework and litigation, supervision and recruitment of pro bono volunteers, as well as the development of client-facing programming, such as upstream debt reduction interventions and financial literacy empowerment for the public.  It will involve collaboration with others across Western New England University, community organizations, and external partners, data and outcomes collection and analysis, and reporting obligations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Staff Attorney will manage the Center’s legal and client casework activities, including developing and overseeing the Center’s CDI program and others in line with the mission of the Center.  The Staff Attorney will collaborate closely with the Center Director and law school faculty, staff, and administrators to advance this work.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

1.    Coordinate and manage the Center’s legal and pro bono programs.  
2.    Serve as the primary person in charge of client casework and pro bono/litigation management.
3.    Supervise and recruit volunteers (including students, faculty, staff, and others) for Center projects/initiatives.
4.    Supervise and evaluate externs, interns, and fellows. 
5.    Develop trainings, training materials, and guides for Center volunteers, participants, and the public.
6.    Collect, maintain, and analyze data from all Center legal programs; assist with reporting on grants and other projects.
7.    Assist in the development of new initiatives, grant applications, and Center collaborations. 
8.    Support the Director as needed in fulfilling the Center’s strategic plan objectives and operations.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS: 

Experience representing clients in civil or criminal matters.  A J.D. from an A.B.A. accredited law school and admission to at least one state bar is preferred. Experience with data collection, grant reporting, and client management systems is desirable.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITIES: 

1.    A demonstrated commitment to social justice and ability to work with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds.
2.    Experience building networks and coalitions; ability to collaborate well with others.
3.    Familiarity with pro bono programs as a volunteer and/or administrator.
4.    Knowledge of civil and criminal laws and procedures.  Knowledge of consumer law and debt collection litigation/defense is a plus.
5.    A demonstrated ability to meet goals and meet deadlines.
6.    Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
7.    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral).
8.    Ability to work independently and organize time.
9.    Knowledge of basic Microsoft Office Suite, email, online surveys, scheduling tools, and data management systems; familiarity with computers.
10.  Experience or comfort with supervising and supporting volunteers and conducting trainings/presentations.
11.  Spanish language fluency is plus.

ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS: 

Moderate travel within Massachusetts, occasional travel out of state for conferences