Staff Attorney - Amarillo College - Hybrid Remote

OVERVIEW: Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) seeks a dynamic, self-starting attorney who has vision, initiative, and a demonstrated commitment and passion for public interest law to fill a staff attorney position in Amarillo. The staff attorney would office with an existing community partner organization within the Amarillo service area. The community partner is an institution of high education that delivers Associate Degree and Certificate programs that enrich lives and inspire success. LANWT and the partner collaborate to provide civil legal services to eligible clients. In addition to providing daily representation in civil legal matters, the successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to strategic advocacy by engaging in outreach and collaboration with low-income survivors and other community partners that serve the indigent community.

DESCRIPTION: LANWT is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides high-quality free civil legal services to low-income persons in 114 counties in North and West Texas. Located in Amarillo, the Amarillo office delivers civil legal services in a diverse and dynamic city and neighboring rural counties.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: A staff attorney must be able to gather evidence, advise clients about their rights, draft legal documents, and conduct civil lawsuits. A staff attorney must interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence, as well as handle other tasks in representing clients. A staff attorney represents clients in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies of government. The staff attorney also interprets laws, rulings, and regulations for clients and the client community. The staff attorney will provide legal assistance in areas of housing, public benefits, probate, family, driver’s license issues, expunctions and non-disclosures.

The staff attorney also also designs and carries out outreach and community legal education and works closely with the community and low-income community groups to further LANWT’s mission of reducing poverty by providing equitable access to the civil justice system. The staff attorney may supervise and coordinate activities of legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers. In short, the staff attorney is expected to efficiently handle a caseload involving substantial litigation and other justice-related advocacy, periodically attend evening legal clinics, devise and participate in community legal education programs, establish meaningful relationships with community organizations, conduct intake at shelters, and participate in outreach offered by LANWT.

In fulfilling this mission, the attorney will provide high-quality representation to indigent clients in accordance with LANWT’s policies and procedures and with an attorney’s responsibilities under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyers Creed, and the American Bar Association’s Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services to the Poor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed to practice law in Texas.
• Prior experience handling handling contested housing, public benefits and/or probate cases preferred.
• Strong understanding of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Evidence.
• Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving low-income persons preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluent in Spanish – both verbal and written is preferred.
• Excellent attendance record.
• Ability to engage in occasional work-related travel.

SALARY: Current entry-level salary for a new attorney is $66,500 per year. The salary for the successful applicant may be significantly higher, based on applicant’s years of experience.

BENEFITS: Excellent benefits package that includes paid vacation and holidays; a retirement plan; health, dental, and life insurance.

Please submit a cover letter expressing interest, a resume, and three professional references during the application process.

LEGAL AID OF NORTHWEST TEXAS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

VETERANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY