Staff Attorney

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program, with thirteen offices providing civil legal assistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas, including family law, public benefits, eviction defense, consumer protection, services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking, and many others. CLS has strengthened lives, assisted families, and supported communities–one person at a time for over 90 years. We are committed to providing high-quality, free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive, transformational change in the lives of those we serve.

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are excited to be hiring a part-time, 80% staff attorney position to be part of our Northwest Colorado Legal Services Project (NCLSP) Office. This position will serve clients primarily in the 5th JD (Lake, Eagle, Summit, and Clear Creek Counties), but will also sometimes serve clients in the 14th JD (Moffatt, Routt, and Grand Counties), as well as Jackson, Rio Blanco, Gunnison and Pitkin Counties. The attorney will be expected to work a set 30 hours a week and on a hybrid basis, with some remote hours, as well as court and travel time. This position qualifies as full time under the rules for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Although we prefer a candidate who lives in Lake, Summit, Clear Creek or Eagle Counties, we are open to candidates who lives outside the service area and are willing to travel frequently. The staff attorney will work under the supervision of the managing attorney, as part of a team which also includes an intake specialist and Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) Coordinator. The staff attorney will primarily provide advice, brief services, and full representation to clients in domestic relations and housing cases but may occasionally be called upon to assist clients in consumer and elder law matters. The staff attorney will also provide some support to contract and pro bono attorneys who volunteer to serve clients throughout our vast 11 counties. This position requires demonstrated high quality legal skills with an assertive, compassionate, and energetic approach to meeting the legal needs of low-income Coloradans living in rural communities. It also requires an ability to collaborate with a team of both CLS staff and private attorneys.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Provide sound legal advice, brief services, and high-quality legal representation that aligns with program objectives, and in accordance with the ethical rules of professional conduct, program priorities, CLS policies and guidelines, and CLS Casehandler guidelines.
• Display professionalism, patience, empathy, respect, and sound judgment while providing clear and transparent communication to clients, managing their expectations effectively.
• Perform client and witness interviews, carry out thorough case investigations, and draft necessary documents including court pleadings and advice letters.
• Represent clients in court and during mediations and other negotiations.
• Collaborate with other CLS attorneys and paralegals across the state.
• Support PAI programming by assisting with pro bono legal advice clinics and supporting contract attorneys through case strategy conversations, ghost writing, and in other ways as needed.
• Maintain comprehensive real time case notes and documentation in case management system.
• Work as member of a legal team, actively participating in regular case review/staffing, as well as office or organization-wide projects focusing on community education, PAI programming, the development of legal information materials, and outreach to client populations.
• Frequent travel as needed throughout the NCLSP service area for client meetings, court appearances, trial prep, stakeholder meetings, and presentations, especially in the 5th JD. Some travel outside of the service area will be necessary for statewide staff conferences and other trainings and events.
• Keep current on general and specialized poverty law developments, especially in the areas of family and housing law, and regularly engage in professional development and training opportunities. Most job-related training opportunities are paid for by CLS.
• Promote an office culture that emphasizes equity, diversity, inclusion, harmony, cohesiveness, work quality, continuous improvement, and excellent customer service.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid license to practice law in the state of Colorado.
• Demonstrated empathy for the needs of low-income clients and understanding of the effects of poverty.
• Demonstrated understanding of the unique needs of rural Coloradans and a passion for advancing access to justice in rural communities.
• Team player who thrives in a collaborative small group with client centered goals and mission.
• Strong work ethic; initiative; ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including trauma informed client interviewing.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and ability to meet deadlines. 
• Flexibility and ability to adjust priorities and juggle multiple tasks.
• Comfortable with technology including Microsoft 365, Zoom, and case management software;
• Comfortable performing administrative work.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prefer applicants that live in Lake, Summit, Clear Creek or Eagle Counties. Candidates who live in Moffat, Rio Blanco, Grand, Routt, Jackson, Pitkin, or Gunnison will also be given preference.
• Past professional experience in a client-centered practice including working with survivors of domestic violence, individuals who have experienced trauma, at-risk seniors, individuals who are unhoused, and/or individuals with disabilities.
• 1 to 3 years of trial court experience
• Proficiency in Spanish
• Experience working in rural communities.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please use the “Apply for This Job” link for this job opening on our careers page. We are accepting applications through November 4. We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this position or any other positions at Colorado Legal Services, contact Karen Masciulli Vilner, Director of People and Culture, at kvilner@colegalserv.org. Please no solicitations from recruitment firms.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

We offer a generous plan that includes 100% employer paid premiums for employee health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, as well as partial employer paid premiums for spouses/dependents, based on a sliding scale. We also offer Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). CLS contributes $200/month to each employee's 403(b) retirement account and matches 100% of employee contributions up to 3% of employee salary; vesting occurs gradually with full vesting after 3 years of employment. Additionally, CLS offers generous paid time-off and 13 paid holidays per year. CLS non-exempt and non-grant staff are members of the United Legal Services Workers of Colorado.

CLS values its employees’ commitment to working hard for the population it serves and recognizes the importance of work/life balance. We promote and foster a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and psychologically safe work environment, striving to be a “Best Place to Work” in Colorado.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSIITY AND BELONGING:

CLS embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and retaining a workforce that respects and empowers each individual and represents a variety of diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply for this position.