CLAVC Staff Attorney, Consumer Rights Unit – GBLS

Greater Boston Legal Services is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Accessible Employer. We want to build and sustain a staff that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) seeks a staff attorney to join our Consumer Rights Unit (CRU) to represent consumers who are victims of crimes in civil legal cases related to their victimization under the Civil Legal Aid to Victims of Crime (CLAVC) initiative.

The staff attorney will represent and advocate for victims of identity theft who are facing debt collection, wage garnishment and other legal proceedings.  The attorney will also represent survivors of domestic violence who were coerced to take out debt by an abusive partner.  The attorney will join a team of advocates who collaborate in-house and across Massachusetts under the statewide CLAVC Initiative.

GBLS provides free legal services and representation to clients in the greater Boston area who cannot afford private legal representation.  The attorney will work out of the GBLS Boston office. GBLS currently operates a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities include:

  • Managing a consumer law caseload that will include full representation cases, as well as counsel and advice, limited assistance representation, and brief service matters;
  • Participating in systemic advocacy that promotes the interests of GBLS clients;
  • Providing culturally competent services to all clients;
  • Developing and promoting relationships with community partners;
  • Maintaining up-to-date knowledge and skills in consumer law particularly as it relates to victims of crime;
  • Maintaining up-to-date awareness of other areas that impact GBLS consumer clients in order to provide appropriate referrals or advice; and
  • The ability to travel to courthouses throughout the GBLS service area and to occasional statewide CLAVC events (GBLS has a travel expense reimbursement plan).

Qualifications:

  • This position is for an attorney with 0-5 years of experience;
  • The candidate must be admitted to the Massachusetts bar or be able to sit for the Massachusetts bar exam in 2023;
  • The candidate must have excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • The candidate must have the ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks and to work collaboratively with other attorneys, as well as non-attorney staff and partners;
  • Prior experience working on consumer law issues including identity theft and with survivors of domestic violence is preferred, but not required;

Salary is based on a union scale. The scale starts at $70,000 for an attorney with less than one year of experience. GBLS offers generous benefits, retirement contribution, student loan repayment assistance for eligible attorneys, and generous Paid Time Off leave.

Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample to the Human Resources Team via e-mail at jobs@gbls.org. Please refer to the Job Code: CRU-CLAVC when applying. Deadline for applications is March 17, 2023, or until position is filled.

GBLS encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences