Pro Bono Staff Attorney

Description

Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP), a statewide nonprofit law firm, seeks a Pro Bono Staff Attorney to work in the Savannah Regional Office.

About Georgia Legal Services Program

Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) is a statewide, nonprofit public interest law firm in Georgia that offers free civil legal services to low-income individuals, fostering equal access to justice and opportunities out of poverty. GLSP is founded on the belief that everyone deserves high-quality legal services regardless of income, age, race, or other demographic factors.

GLSP runs 10 regional offices that serve Georgians with low incomes living outside metro Atlanta in 154 of the state’s 159 counties. GLSP employs approximately 182 full-time staff members. We provide free legal aid across a wide range of civil issues, including family law, housing, access to public benefits, eviction prevention, farmworkers' rights, and educational access.

Job Summary

The Pro Bono Staff Attorney is an attorney position within the Pro Bono Program of Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP). They maintain a pro bono caseload, host and attend local and statewide clinic events, and further GLSP’s ability to serve clients with low incomes by training and supporting volunteers. This work furthers GLSP’s ability to provide access to justice and opportunities out of poverty.

To ensure legal representation is accessible to clients throughout the state, Pro Bono Staff Attorneys are expected to travel to meet clients, conduct community education sessions, participate in professional networking activities with various bar associations, support work required under our grants, and at times, as necessary, work outside of normal business hours to accomplish the mission of the organization and meet their professional responsibilities to their clients.

This position is jointly supervised by the Director of the Pro Bono Unit and the Managing Attorney of the Savannah Regional Office.

Job Responsibilities and Duties:

- Pro Bono Staff Attorneys provide clients assistance and information in preparation for volunteer placement. They ensure all necessary information is correctly documented in a timely manner and communicated effectively to ensure client accessibility to the information and resources provided.

- Pro Bono Staff Attorneys must ensure their files and work comply with internal GLSP rules, LSC regulations, grantor requirements, professional responsibilities and any other applicable rules and regulations.

- Pro Bono Staff Attorneys maintain their cases in accordance with Pro Bono Unit practices and procedures. 

- Pro Bono Staff Attorneys are responsible for volunteer recruitment, retention, and recognition activities both within their assigned region and, in collaboration with fellow unit-members, statewide. They ensure volunteer information is accurate and well-documented.

- Pro Bono Staff Attorneys also lead and support a variety of unit-specific events, such as Signature Project or Impact clinics. 

- Pro Bono Staff Attorneys are responsible for volunteer recruitment, retention, and recognition activities both within their assigned region and, in collaboration with fellow unit-members, statewide. They ensure volunteer information is accurate and well-documented. 

- Pro Bono Staff Attorneys improve client and applicant access to GLSP’s legal services by organizing and supporting community education and partnership activities in their local office and in combination with the statewide Pro Bono Unit. They maintain knowledge of GLSP services available to clients, including those statewide units and hotlines that provide remote/virtual assistance. Pro Bono Staff Attorneys also conduct outreach to varied geographic areas and communities with low incomes, building relationships and maintaining regular contact with community partners and referral providers.

Requirements

Experience/Skill Requirements:

· Must have 2+ years experience working in with clients with low incomes and/or with potentially marginalized populations, such as immigrants, senior citizens, survivors of violence, and/or persons with disabilities. Experience in a legal aid setting is a plus.

· Must have completed a juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

· Must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia

· Must have and maintain an active driver’s license.

· Must be self-directed, willing to take initiative, and detail oriented.

Desirable Experience

· Familiarity with the federal Legal Services Corporation compliance regulations pertaining to cases served by pro bono programs.

· Experience serving clients in GLSP Pro Bono Unit priority areas (currently wills, record restriction, and bankruptcy).

· Experience working with client groups/substantive legal issues aligned with all GLSP priority areas, including clients who are survivors of violence, kinship caregivers, the unhoused, and/or elderly and cases with substantive legal issues in healthcare, housing/eviction, discrimination, and public benefits.

· Experience working under and strategically meeting grant restrictions, requirements, and deliverables.

· Familiarity with office technologies and equipment. This includes but is not limited to Adobe Pro, Legal Server, Microsoft Office applications, SharePoint, and Zoom.

Professional/Other Qualities

· Maintain files, workload, and resources in a highly organized manner.

· Communicate professionally and effectively in speech and writing. Seeks opportunities to continually strengthen oral advocacy and legal writing abilities. 

· Able to work in team setting and collaboratively achieve team goals.

· Present a professional appearance and a friendly manner.

· Dependable and punctual. 

· Willing and able to travel to attend and support Pro Bono Unit clinics, conferences, and other events as scheduled, assigned, and necessary.

How to Apply: 

A statement of interest reflecting your experiences working with an organization that works with low-income populations and a resume should be submitted to:  https://www.glsp.org/join-the-team/

GLSP is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Georgia Legal Services Program not to discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, medical condition, veteran status, political affiliation, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. .

Benefits

• Salary range $60,000 - $78,725, dependent upon experience and qualifications. Probationary period: 6 months
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plan
• 15 accrued vacation days, including 2 personal days. Vacation days increase to 20 days after      3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days
• 13 paid holidays, including your birthday holiday 
• 3 Summer Days (paid holidays of your choosing during the summer)
• Minimum 7 hours per workday/35 hours per week. All attorneys are expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill the responsibilities and requirements of their position.
• 403(b) retirement plan with GLSP 4% match up to $5,000
• Up to 10 weeks paid parental leave
• Organizational Wellness activities
• Professional development opportunities
• Additional supplement for employees who pass GLSP’s Spanish proficiency test and use Spanish in their GLSP position 

How to Apply:

 A statement of interest reflecting your experiences working with an organization that works with low-income populations, and a resume should be submitted to:  https://www.glsp.org/join-the-team/

GLSP is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Georgia Legal Services Program not to discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, medical condition, veteran status, political affiliation, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status.