Staff Attorney

Genesis Women's Shelter & Support provides safety, shelter and support for women who have experienced domestic violence and their children. All of the services at Genesis Women's Shelter & Support are confidential and no cost. Through every effort we put forth we work to end the epidemic of domestic violence by raising awareness against its cause, prevalence and impact.

The Staff Attorney must be able to gather evidence, advise clients about their rights, draft legal documents, and conduct civil lawsuits. The Staff Attorney must interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence, as well as handle other tasks in representing clients and represents clients in court. The staff attorney will provide legal assistance in areas of family law, including but not limited to: divorces, child custody, protective orders, modifications, and enforcement.

The staff attorney also designs and carries out outreach and community legal education and works closely with the community and community groups to further Genesis mission of helping families impacted by intimate partner violence 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 fulfilling this mission, the attorney will provide high-quality representation to indigent clients in accordance with Genesis policies and procedures and with an attorney's responsibilities under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer's Creed, and the Genesis Women's Shelter & Support Victim's Advocacy Code of Ethics.

• Carry a caseload client who are needing representation in family law matters in Dallas Count
• Advise and strategize with clients about the proper approach to their cases to achieve the client's goals. Empower the client to participate in the court process against her abuse
• Provide trauma-informed legal representation to the client
• Responsibility to interprets laws, rulings and regulations for client's best interest
• Advocate for client's legal needs in court and provide trauma-informed explanations and guidance about the family court process to the client
• Advocate for domestic violence survivors and survivor-focused policies in the family court system
• Work closely with the Legal Program Director and other staff attorneys to promote successful communication and collaboration between all attorneys
• Be prepared to assist other Legal Program attorneys with their hearings, drafting, court appearances (when other attorney has a conflict)
• Attend and eventually conduct speaking engagements within the community about domestic violence, related topics and the GWSS response.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and admission in good standing to Texas State Bar
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant family law experience including divorces, child custody, protective orders, modifications, and enforcement
• Licensed to practice in Texas
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills, including ability to manage a caseload of approx. 20 individual clients and prioritize client-centered and trauma-informed services
• Experience working with marginalized or impacted communities, grassroots organizations, and/or non-governmental organizations
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong computer literacy, research and analysis skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills required