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.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 family law, including but not limited to: divorce, child custody, protective orders, and child support and enforcement proceedings.
The staff attorney 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.
- 2 years prior experience handling contested family law cases preferred.
- Strong understanding of the Texas Family Code, 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.
- The ability to think and plan strategically and to develop and implement projects.
- Possess a strong work ethic and a sense of accountability.
- Fluent in Spanish – both verbal and written is preferred.
- Excellent attendance record.
- Ability to engage in occasional work-related travel.
