SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW seeks a Public Interest Attorney to work in its Public Interest Law Clinic.

STCL Houston seeks a full-time, exempt public interest attorney for a time limited program that ends on August 31, 2024, unless renewed by additional funds. Primary subject matter is General Civil Law. Client base is drawn from Brazoria, Ft. Bend, Harris, and Montgomery Counties—indigent and economically disadvantaged persons. Provides high quality legal representation and community service to Clinics’ client base in landlord/tenant, emergency rental assistance, and self-help assistance in various civil law matters, often utilizing student/qualified unlicensed graduate intern involvement designed to enhance student/graduate education experience by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Collaborate with Clinics’ faculty, coordinators, and public interest attorneys in assisting student interns with client interactions, including intake, interviews, and correspondence.

Provide legal representation to eligible applicants for landlord/tenant matters, including eviction defense in Justice Courts or County Courts.

Assist with the pro se clinics; develop self-help videos, brochures, or handouts; and serve at self help desks at the courthouse.

Attend partnership or collaborative meetings as representative of the Clinics.

Conduct information sessions or presentations at outreach events, occasionally in the evenings or on weekends.

Assist with the development and implementation of the outreach activities, such as making connections with partner agencies and distributing materials at community service fairs.

Participate in a collaboration to enhance the provision of legal services to indigent populations, in collaboration with Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Lone Star Legal Aid, UH, TSU, and other organizations.

Observe and monitor student/graduate interns, as needed, in the performance of their duties and skills development/enhancement in such functions as client interviewing and counseling, factual investigation, document drafting, case/hearing preparation and development, timeliness, court/administrative appearances, post-hearing follow-up, and provides timely and appropriate feedback. This includes clinical settings, pro bono projects, and post graduate internships or fellowships.

Practice and promote ethical and professional approach to the practice of law to enhance and ensure high quality student education experience, client representation, and community service.

Utilize case management and data aggregation software(s) to:

·     maintain program reports, surveys, and data entry of statistics

·     assist with client intake, screening, and document gathering

·     set appointments, organize and track cases, and communicate with clients

Travel frequently to off-site locations as needed to accomplish the above tasks.

Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

When needed, monitor and supervise the work of student/graduate interns, pro bono attorneys, and paralegals as directed by the Managing Attorney.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required

1.                        Licensed to practice law in Texas;

2.                        Strong interpersonal skills and ability to community with all levels of constituencies;

3.                        High level of business and professional ethics;

4.                        Flexible and adaptive in meeting the needs of the Clinics’ client base, student interns, faculty, and staff;

5.                        Excellent verbal and written communication skills;

6.                        Reliable transportation;

7.                        Minimum computer and technology skills required: Microsoft Windows and Office, telephone, fax, and copying/scanning.

Preferred

·     Two (2) years legal experience or more;

·     Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving low-income persons;

·     Other language proficiency besides English;

·     Prior experience with veterans legal or social services;

·     Prior experience in teaching, training, or mentoring others;

·     Experience with case management software is a plus.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Graduate of an ABA accredited law school.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define routine problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to solve routine problems and/or deal with a variety of variables in situations, especially when department head may be out of office or unavailable. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Licensed to practice law in Texas

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. Occasional light to moderate lifting from floor level, at waist, and above shoulders required. Infrequent bending and stooping necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision in order to accurately input data and proofread; distance vision in order to recognize and assist visitors to the department.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Fast paced, multitasking, non-smoking work environment. Must be able to work the general business schedule of the College ranging from a start time of 9:00 to 5:30 depending on scheduling needs, plus occasional evenings and weekends as necessary.

SALARY

$65,000 to 68,000/yr, depending on experience. Position is anticipated to end on August 31, 2024 unless funding renewed. Position is eligible for employee benefits.

Application Instructions

Applications must contain a CV or resume and a cover letter describing the applicant’s interest in public interest law and clinical legal education.

Link: https://stclh-openhire.silkroad.com/epostings/?fuseaction=app.jobInfo&version=1&jobid=141