Staff Attorney, Family Law & Guardianship

POSITION: Staff Attorney- Family Law and Guardianship

DAYS/HOURS: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (w/ some evening trainings)

*This position is hybrid that also requires in person attendance to weekly Family Law and Guardianship clinics in Boston and Woburn.

REPORTS TO: Geraldine Gruvis-Pizarro, Esq., Supervising Attorney

UNIT(S): Family Law and Guardianship

LOCATION: Volunteer Lawyers Project, 7 Winthrop Square, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02110

STATUS: Exempt, Full Time

SALARY: Starting at $60,000. Commensurate with experience.

Click here to apply!

This application will remain open until the position has been filled.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:  

The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) is a non-profit legal services organization that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Greater Boston, primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys. We are seeking a full-time staff attorney with a dedicated commitment to the communities and people we serve to work in our family law and guardianship units.

VLP is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ a diverse staff. Our ideal candidate is respectful of an inclusive work environment. Fluency in a second language is strongly preferred, specifically Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Cantonese, or Vietnamese as a significant percentage of our client population is limited English proficient.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING:

  • Law degree from an accredited law school.
  • Admission to and good standing in Massachusetts bar

REQUIRED MENTAL/PHYSICAL ABILITITES/SKILLS:

  • 1-3 years in full-time family law and guardianship practice, including litigation
  • Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office Suite
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
  • Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and with staff at outside organizations
  • Ability to effectively engage with the private bar to recruit, train and mentor volunteer attorneys
  • Ability to use a computer several hours per day
  • Ability to communicate in person, by telephone, and by computer
  • Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in Greater Boston

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Maintain updated substantive knowledge in family law and guardianship law
  • Attend weekly unit case review meetings
  • Effectively and efficiently handle a small caseload
  • Provide substantive family law and guardianship supervision at weekly clinics, including answering questions and reviewing advice and drafts of documents and closing cases
  • Supervise and mentor interns and pro bono attorneys
  • Review cases for merit and alignment with priorities
  • Conduct training for volunteers, often during evening hours
  • Prepare cases for pro bono assignment, including reviewing memos and documents
  • Assist in placement of cases with pro bono attorneys
  • Monitor pro bono cases to ensure quality and competent representation
  • Other responsibilities as needed

VLP is committed to a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, genetics, disability, age, military or veteran status. 

Bilingual Paralegal, Bankruptcy & Consumer – VLP

POSITION: Bilingual Paralegal – Bankruptcy and Consumer
DAYS/HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, 35 hours per week (with 1 evening clinic)
REPORTS TO: Staff Attorney, Grace Brockmeyer
UNIT: Bankruptcy and Consumer
LOCATION: 7 Winthrop Square, Floor 2, Boston, MA 02110
SALARY: $52,015

Click here to apply!

This position requires fluency in English and Spanish. Please be advised that selected candidates will be required to take a Spanish Language Proficiency exam.

This application will remain open until the position has been filled.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) represents low-income people in the Greater Boston area on a variety of civil legal problems, including housing, consumer issues, and family law matters. Many cases are referred to volunteer private attorneys who handle the cases with VLP providing training and ongoing support. This role supports the organization’s attorneys as well as the pro bono panel in all aspects of the legal and administrative functions of the unit, case management for the unit, and other duties as necessary to carry out the mission of the organization. Must be motivated and committed to public interest work and access to justice.

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING:
REQUIRED:

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Fluency in English and Spanish

PREFERRED:

  • Prior experience working in legal aid, the court system or a law office that handles civil cases
  • Prior experience with an organization serving low-income populations

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:

REQUIRED:

  • Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, database and web content management systems, and
  • collaborative project tools.
  • Ability to effectively engage with the private bar in recruiting and retaining volunteer attorneys.
  • Paralegal experience at Volunteer Lawyers Project

PREFERRED:

  • Knowledge of MA laws surrounding Bankruptcy and Consumer

PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

REQUIRED:

  • Ability to use a computer and phone for several hours a day
  • Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in the Greater Boston area

MENTAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

REQUIRED:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent administrative and organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
  • Ability to work independently and have the ability to be detail-oriented
  • Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and staff at outside organizations
  • Ability to exercise good judgment, be reliable and flexible

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Bankruptcy Paralegal Duties

  • Develop and maintain the administrative support for screening new cases to ensure client eligibility for VLP services and completion of files for screening by staff attorneys in a timely manner
  • Draft case referral memos to be reviewed by staff attorney
  • Provide the main telephone support for fielding questions from clients seeking to file bankruptcy
  • Follow up with clients on cases after clinics that need further assistance or representation
  • Provide administrative and technical support for volunteer attorneys during the duration of their bankruptcy case
  • Assist with the recruitment of attorneys who will accept bankruptcy cases
  • Report to supervisor when bankruptcy intakes and referrals need to be adjusted
  • Organize and compile reports on intake and referral statistics
  • Schedule clients and attorneys and intern volunteers for monthly bankruptcy clinics
  • Set up monthly bankruptcy clinics in the office or at DotHouse
  • Conduct intake of new clients at the Bankruptcy clinics to ensure eligibility; collect required documentation for bankruptcy cases and assist with obtaining credit reports
  • Attend trainings as needed for professional development
  • Maintain Bankruptcy case reports
  • Delegate case processing tasks to interns as needed
  • Assist with bankruptcy grant requirements
  • Prepare cases for closing weekly

Consumer Unit (shared with the Employment and Consumer Paralegal)

  • Attend Consumer case review, assist with client follow up and case processing
  • Conduct intakes of new clients at the small claims clinics (shared with the Employment and Consumer Paralegal)
  • Conduct post-clinic follow-up with clients and case processing to ensure documents and notes are accurate and current
  • Follow up with clients on cases after clinics that need further assistance or representation
  • Draft case referral memos to be reviewed by staff attorney
  • Assist with the recruitment of attorneys who will accept bankruptcy cases
  • Attend trainings as needed for professional development
  • Delegate case processing tasks to interns as needed
  • Track and report statistics (i.e., defaults) from consumer clinics to the Employment and Consumer Paralegal for reports and outreaches
  • Prepare cases for closing weekly
  • Participate in other projects as needed to continue the VLP mission

Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our ideal candidates are respectful of an inclusive work environment. VLP strives to ensure that those working in our organization reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. VLP encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions. 

Staff Attorney, Immigration Law Unit – GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Accessible Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.  

GBLS seeks a full-time staff attorney to join our Immigration Unit (IU). The IU represents clients in removal defense, defensive and affirmative asylum claims, special immigrant juvenile status petitions, VAWA self-petitions, “U” and “T” visas, and other immigration matters before the USCIS and EOIR. GBLS provides free legal services and representation to clients in the greater Boston area who cannot afford private legal representation.

Responsibilities of the Staff Attorney will include:

  • Managing an immigration caseload and providing representation and assistance to immigrants on substantive issues, with a priority of removal defense. Types of cases which may be handled include:
    • Defensive and affirmative asylum claims;
    • Special immigrant juvenile petitions;
    • VAWA self-petitions;
    • “U” and “T” visa applications; and
    • Providing representation concerning these and other immigration matters before the USCIS, BIA, EOIR and the federal courts;
  • Conducting intake interviews;
  • Providing advice and referrals on immigration matters;
  • Liaising with community organizations;
  • Doing community clinics and outreach;
  • Responding to requests for emergency legal assistance;
  • Providing legal services to culturally and linguistically diverse clients in an inclusive and respectful manner;
  • Assisting with general administrative tasks and grant reporting as appropriate;

Qualifications:

  • This position is for an attorney with up to 4 years of legal experience.
  • The candidate must be admitted to a state bar, or in the process of being admitted.
  • The candidate must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • The candidate must have the ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks.
  • The candidate must have the ability to work collaboratively with other attorneys as well as non-attorney staff and community partners.
  • Experience working with immigrant clients from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds is preferred.
  • Prior experience in immigration law, including asylum, is required.
  • Proficiency in Spanish, Haitian Creole or Portuguese preferred but not required.

Salary is based on a union scale, with a starting annual salary range from $72,000 to $76,500 depending on experience. Potential salary increase in the future will be determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. GBLS offers a generous benefits package and paid time off policy. A hybrid work schedule is possible.

Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and brief writing sample to the GBLS Human Resources Team by email at jobs@gbls.org. Please refer to Job Code: IMM-ATT when applying for this position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled but applicants are encouraged to submit applications by September 17, 2023.

GBLS values diversity and encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Bilingual Intake, Legal Assistant – NLA

Northeast Legal Aid, a non-profit legal aid office, seeks a bilingual (English-Spanish) entry-level receptionist/intake worker/legal assistant to respond to high volume telephone and walk-in requests for legal services.

This position will be based in our Lynn office, but the selected candidates will move between our Lynn, Lawrence, and Lowell offices to cover for absent employees as necessary.

Duties include: greeting walk-in clients, answering intake phones, screening clients for eligibility, accurate data entry into client case management system, other clerical duties as assigned by attorneys and paralegals including typing client correspondence, organizing case files, copying, faxing, and scanning.

Must have excellent customer service skills and experience with Microsoft Applications including MS Word, Excel, Outlook email/calendars.

Bilingual ability in Spanish is required; and strong preference for candidates with experience working with diverse, low-income populations.

NLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer seeking diverse candidates. Please send a resume and two references to creardon@nla-ma.org.

Staff Attorney, Family Law Unit

De Novo, a community-based organization that provides integrated legal, mental health, and support services to empower our clients to achieve their goals seeks a full-time staff attorney in our Family Law Unit. De Novo strives to create a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and safe work environment that welcomes, encourages, and values everyone’s contributions and fosters an exchange of ideas and mutual learning. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from diverse personal, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds to apply.

Responsibilities include:

  1. Provide legal assistance, including advice, brief service, legal representation, case consultation, in-depth intake, and referrals to eligible clients in family law cases.
  2. Make referrals for clients as appropriate to counseling staff and/or case manager for crisis intervention, safety planning, case management, therapy, and other services.
  3. Collaborate with community-based social services and other legal services programs.
  4. Provide family law consultations to community partners and their clients. When appropriate refer clients to De Novo’s housing, disability, and immigration units.
  5. Staff De Novo’s Family Law Clinic. At the clinic, we provide legal assistance, including advice, brief service, case consultation, and referrals.
  6. Conduct community outreach to agencies serving victims of crime, including agencies that serve ethnically diverse populations.
  7. Ensure that clients are aware of available services including victim compensation.
  8. Collect required data and assist with the preparation of grant reports as needed.
  9. Recruit, train, and supervise volunteer attorneys and law students to handle cases.

Qualifications/Competencies include:

  1. Admitted to Massachusetts bar ** with 2 or more years of experience in family law.
  2. Some experience in and/or exposure to immigration, housing and disability law preferred.
  3. Strong writing, communication, oral advocacy and organizational skills.
  4. Experience working with and/or representing a broad range of people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people with low incomes.
  5. Strong writing and oral advocacy skills.
  6. Ability to supervise effectively.
  7. Strong computer skills.
  8. Bilingual preferred.

**An applicant who is admitted to the bar of another state must be eligible to practice as a foreign lawyer under SJC Rule 3.04 and become a member of the Mass. bar within 2 years.

HOURS, SALARY, AND BENEFITS: The position is 35 hours/week. Salary range is $68,000 to $80,000 ($72,000 w/ 2 years’ experience) dependent on experience. Excellent fringe benefit package, including 100% employer paid health insurance for employee and families, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance, vacation, personal, and sick time, 403(b) plan, Flexible Spending Plan, training and professional development opportunities.

To Apply: Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter addressing experience and interests relevant to the position and 2) a resume, by e-mail to John Froio, Deputy Director, at jfroio@denovo.org. No phone calls please. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be considered on a rolling basis. For more information about De Novo refer to our website: www.denovo.org

De Novo is a Fair Employment Practices/Equal Employment Opportunity/disability accessible employer committed to maintaining a diverse workplace. Qualified candidates from diverse personal, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Immigration Law Attorney – CWJC

Central West Justice Center (CWJC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Community Legal Aid, seeks an attorney to join a vibrant, talented team that provides legal assistance in a range of humanitarian-based immigration law matters, including but not limited to removal defense, VAWA petitions, U and T visas, SIJS petitions, and asylum cases. The attorney will engage in community outreach, including community consultation sessions and know-your-rights trainings, and will assist in the preparation of periodic grant reports. This is a full-time position, although part-time hours are negotiable.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must be admitted to the Mass. Bar, entitled to practice under SJC Rule 3:04, or have taken the July bar exam. Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole strongly preferred, as is prior experience in immigration law and demonstrated experience working with diverse communities. Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a collaborative setting are important.

COMPENSATION: The starting salary for this position is $65,500, which is based on a union scale and adjusted upward depending on experience. CWJC offers a very generous benefits package that includes 401(k) with employer-paid contribution; low-cost health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents; malpractice insurance; paid leave (4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, and 13 holidays); and relocation stipend.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please apply online on our website at: https://communitylegal.org/get-involved/work-with-us/job-openings/. Alternatively, you can submit your cover letter and resume to: avaughan@cla-ma.org or mail to Alicia Vaughan, Human Resources Director, Community Legal Aid, 370 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608.

CWJC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. CWJC encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Temporary Staff Attorney, Victims of Crime – CLA

Community Legal Aid (CLA) is the non-profit legal services program providing free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income and elderly clients in Central and Western Massachusetts. CLA has over 150 dedicated, talented staff working across multiple offices. Our core work includes effective client-centered advocacy and robust outreach to and partnerships with our client communities.

CLA seeks a staff attorney to work in its Springfield office for the period of one year on a project designed to help victims of crime with a wide variety of civil legal matters. The attorney will help clients with cases involving access to housing, benefits, and health insurance programs; education law issues; and elder abuse. A portion of the attorney’s work will focus on assisting victims of domestic violence and harassment, including seeking restraining orders and handling other domestic relations matters. The position is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance to provide holistic services to victims of crime.

QUALIFICATIONS: Recent law school graduates and more experienced attorneys are eligible to apply. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to poverty law and social justice work. Experience working with diverse communities, strong interpersonal skills, and an ability to work in a collaborative setting are important. Fluency in Spanish, Portuguese and/or Vietnamese a plus.

COMPENSATION: The starting salary for this position is $65,500, which is based on a union scale and adjusted upward depending on experience. CLA offers a very generous benefits package that includes 401(k) with employer-paid contribution; low-cost health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents; paid leave (4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, and 13 holidays); and relocation stipend. CLA has a hybrid workplace and requires at least three days per week in the office.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please apply online on our website at: https://communitylegal.org/get-involved/work-with-us/job-openings/. Alternatively, you can submit your cover letter and resume to avaughan@cla-ma.org or mail to Alicia Vaughan, Human Resources Director, Community Legal Aid, 370 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608.

CLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. CLA encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Temporary Family Law Staff Attorney – CLA

Community Legal Aid (CLA) is the non-profit legal services program providing free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of central and western Massachusetts. CLA has over 150 dedicated, talented staff working across multiple offices. Our core work includes effective client-centered advocacy and robust outreach to and partnerships with our client communities.

CLA seeks an attorney to join its Family Law Unit for the period of one year, with the possibility of an extension. The attorney will be based in CLA’s Worcester office and will assist clients with cases involving family law matters including divorce, child support, visitation, and custody. It is anticipated that most of the attorney’s clients will be survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes. The attorney will have significant client contact and will assume an active caseload while continuing to accept new cases. This is a full-time position, although part-time hours are negotiable.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must be admitted to the Mass. Bar or entitled to practice under SJC Rule 3:04. Prior family law experience strongly preferred, as is experience working with low-income people and survivors of domestic violence. Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese helpful. Excellent oral and written communication skills required.

COMPENSATION: The starting salary for this position is $65,500, which is based on a union scale and adjusted upward depending on experience. CLA offers a very generous benefits package that includes 401(k) with employer-paid contribution; low-cost health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents; paid leave (4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, and 13 holidays); and relocation stipend.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please apply online on our website at: https://communitylegal.org/get-involved/work-with-us/job-openings/. Alternatively, you can submit your cover letter and resume to avaughan@cla-ma.org or mail to Alicia Vaughan, Human Resources Director, Community Legal Aid, 370 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608.

CLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. CLA encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Deputy Director – SCCLS

South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS), the primary provider of free civil legal aid to low-income residents of Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod & the Islands, seeks an experienced and detail-oriented Deputy Director, with strong communication skills to work closely with and support the work of the Executive Director. The Deputy will assist in the development of organizational policy, including strategic planning and assessment of legal need in the region, be responsible for the execution of strategic goals, supervise communications and data collection efforts, support human resources and diversity efforts, assist with ensuring the organization complies with requirements of the largest funders, fiscal management, and supervise senior staff as determined by the Executive Director.

Reporting to SCCLS’ Executive Director, the Deputy will be a key part of the Executive Management team and contribute to ensuring the overall success of the organization in meeting its mission to provide high quality civil legal aid to low-income people and communities in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod & Islands. The position will be in SCCLS’ Fall River Administrative office.

Responsibilities:

  • Development and implementation of policies and key strategic goals for the organization;
  • Play a key role in recruitment, hiring, orientation and professional development of staff;
  • Support the work of the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts;
  • Lead ongoing legal needs assessment efforts;
  • Assist with legislative lobbying efforts for funding for civil legal aid and other fundraising campaigns;
  • Investigate and resolve staff grievances in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement;
  • Ensure compliance with policies and grant requirements of SCCLS’ largest funders;
  • Supervise communications and data collection efforts;
  • Supervise senior staff and/or organizational projects as directed by the Executive Director;
  • Provide mentoring, consultation, and supervision for staff members or unit leaders regarding legal work, as
    needed;
  • In collaboration with the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer involvement of staff funding
    allocations; and
  • Assume other duties as requested by the Executive Director.

Qualifications:

  • Licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, or eligible to practice;
  • Excellent demonstrated skills relative to supervision, mentoring, training and development of professional staff with varying experience levels;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
  • Proficient in use of legal case management systems, Microsoft Office Suite and tools for data management;
  • Significant experience providing legal aid to low income clients (experience in an IOLTA or LSC funded program helpful);
  • Demonstrated project management, grant management, problem solving, planning and organizational skills;
  • Organized, efficient and goal oriented;
  • Prior experience with financial and grant management;
  • Experience with Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives;
  • Committed to providing effective and high-quality legal assistance to low-income residents of our region.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: $90,000+ DOE. Starting Benefits package: health and dental with supplemental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b), loan forgiveness. Generous paid leave including sick, vacation, personal and holidays.

APPLY: Submit letter of interest, resume and professional references by email to: LThelin@sccls.org with Subject Line: SCCLS Deputy Director. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
SCCLS and its subsidiary, the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSM), with a combined staff of nearly 80, is the principal provider of free, civil legal aid to low-income residents of Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. SCCLS law offices are located in Hyannis, New Bedford and Fall River. The Justice Center is located in Brockton. SCCLS’ core mission is to achieve justice for eligible clients through community-based advocacy. The organization prioritizes legal services in: housing, public benefits, elder law, domestic relations, employment, education, immigration, and consumer matters.

South Coastal Counties Legal Services and its subsidiary are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We strive to foster a healthy, inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members are valued, empowered and recognized.

Attorney, Welfare Law Unit – GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/ Accessible Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

GBLS provides free legal services and representation to clients in the greater Boston area who cannot afford private legal representation.

GBLS seeks applicants for a permanent attorney position, which initially will be focused on our Welfare Law Unit (WLU) Tax Benefits Project, involving COVID tax benefits and related tax matters for families and individuals living in deep poverty who have barriers to navigating the tax system. Once the project is completed, the attorney may be transferred to other work at GBLS based on need at that time.

The WLU handles advocacy work for certain tax/guaranteed income issues, welfare benefits, and subsidized child care benefits through: (1) direct representation of individual clients and their families; (2) systemic administrative advocacy directed at targeted state and federal agencies; (3) class action and other impact lawsuits and; (4) legislative advocacy campaigns to expand, improve, defend, and create income, food, and child care programs.

Core Responsibilities for the Position:

  • Transition into the role of overseeing the Tax Benefits Project.
  • Supervise, as appropriate, and co-counsel with paralegal advocates to handle a range of tax cases for very low-income clients who did not receive the COVID 2020 and 2021 stimulus payments and/or special 2021 Child Tax Credit, including representation with IRS and, with Tax Court and/or Fed. Dist. Court, if needed.
  • Provide high quality representation in all aspects of this work, including written and oral advocacy, legal and other research, effective and sensitive work with clients, writing in plain language to clients and in other materials, attention to detail, and documenting all case work in the client’s case record in GBLS’s case management system.
  • Engage in systemic advocacy with national organizations concerning access barriers to filing taxes, obtaining refundable tax credits, and resolving disputes with the IRS, leveraging information and experience gained from working with clients and community and provider organizations.
  • Engage in systemic advocacy with national organizations working toward a permanent fully refundable Child Tax Credit, with no work requirement and no restrictions barring children based on immigrant status.

Qualifications:

  • Bar admission in any state obtained or soon to be obtained.
  • Experience with tax law and practice affecting low-income clients, although graduates of law school low-income tax clinics will be considered.
  • Desire to work with clients with significant barriers to employment and navigating bureaucracies.
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse clients.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to perform careful, detailed work.
  • Demonstrated capacity to analyze and work with complex materials.
  • A plus, but not required: fluency in Spanish or another language prevalent among our clients.

GBLS offers a generous benefits package, retirement contribution, and generous paid-time-off. The position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between GBLS and the Attorney Union, which governs salary and benefits.

Candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample to the Human Resources Team via e-mail at jobs@gbls.org. Please refer to Job Code: WLU-ATTY when applying for this position. The deadline for applying is September 1, 2023, or until the position is filled.

GBLS values diversity and encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds.