Staff Attorney

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. is actively recruiting for a part-time Staff Attorney for our Restraining Order Self-help Clinic located at San Marcos Family Justice Center - One Safe Place (OSP).

The Staff Attorney will provide vital legal information and guidance to self-represented litigants involved in restraining order matters, by drafting their court forms and assisting them in drafting their own supportive declarations. The Staff Attorney will demystify these court processes for litigants, helping them understand what steps they can take in their case, what paperwork may need to be completed, and what to expect throughout the process.

The Staff Attorney cannot offer legal advice or representation, but can make referrals to SDVLP’s counterpart clinic also located at OSP that provides these services and may also provide referrals to other SDVLP programs or nonprofit organizations, as appropriate.

Essential Job Duties:

The Staff Attorney will be responsible for:

• Educating self-represented litigants on court rules and procedures, related to restraining orders.
• Assisting litigants with identifying and compiling court documents that may need to be filed for their case.
• Creating and maintaining up-to-date factsheets/resources for self-represented litigants.
• Identifying and distributing other legal resources and referrals that may help the self-represented litigant.
• Mentoring, training, and supervising pro bono attorneys, law students, and Justice Corp interns.
• Recruiting new pro bono attorneys through community outreach and attendance at networking events. 
• Engaging in outreach and legal education activities with the public and community partners.
• Fostering and maintaining collaborative relationships court personnel, volunteers, and other partners.
• Maintaining knowledge of other legal services organizations to provide targeted referrals for issues outside the scope of SDVLP programs.
• Training and supervising non-attorney staff. 
• Managing and compiling statistical data and assisting with the drafting of narrative reports to funding sources.
• Engaging in other tasks and projects as needed to further SDVLP’s mission. 

Work Environment:

• This position is part-time in person, operating from OSP; 10 – 20 hours per week.
• No billable hours requirement.

Rate of Pay: $35 - $40 /hour

• Must be a member in good standing of the California Bar.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal information to the public in a clear, easily understandable way.
• Must have excellent mentorship and teaching skills.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to successfully work as part of a team, and with the public, volunteers, court personnel, government agencies, and partner organizations.
• Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments with accuracy and minimal direction.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required by events and deadlines.
• Excellent Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income and disadvantaged people.
• Ability to travel to both worksites and other SDVLP events, as needed. 

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 1-2 years of experience in family law, restraining orders, or other area of public interest, preferred.
• Spanish written and speaking ability, preferred.