Staff Attorney- Statewide Expunction

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION: Staff Attorney (Full-Time) Hybrid

CLOSING DATE: Position Immediately Available and Closed When Filled

LOCATION: Dallas, Texas – Statewide Expunction Project

ABOUT: Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides high-quality, free civil legal services to low‑income individuals and families in 114 counties across North and West Texas. Our mission is to ensure equal access to justice and improve the lives of low-income communities by providing high-quality legal representation, strategic litigation, valuable legal advice and meaningful collaboration, outreach, and community education.

JOB OVERVIEW: LANWT seeks a dynamic, self-motivated attorney with vision, initiative, and a strong commitment to public interest law to fill a staff attorney position within its Statewide Expunction Project. In addition to providing daily representation in civil legal matters, the successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to identifying and taking advantage of opportunities for strategic advocacy and to engaging in outreach to and collaboration with low-income individuals, including community groups that are made up of or serve the indigent.

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 general civil law, including but not limited to employment, housing, family, foreclosure prevention, consumer, probate, special education, social security, public benefits, bankruptcy, and landlord-tenant law.

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 handle a caseload involving substantial litigation and other justice-related advocacy, periodically attend evening legal clinics, and devise and participate in community legal education programs and 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 Lawyer’s Creed, and the American Bar Association’s Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services to the Poor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed to practice law in Texas
• Fluent in Spanish (verbal and written)
• Strong understanding of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Texas Rules of Evidence
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage a caseload, think strategically, and develop and implement projects
• Ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language
• Ability to manage emotions and interact calmly and professionally with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and judges
• Strong work ethic, accountability, and professionalism
• Reliable attendance
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences
• Ability to travel occasionally for work‑related activities
• Prior experience handling expunctions and nondisclosures, preferred
• Prior experience handling litigation or contested matters, preferred
• Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving low‑income individuals, preferred

This position requires regular use of a computer, occasional lifting of files or materials, and travel to courts and community locations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

SALARY: Current entry-level salary for a new attorney is $73,815 per year. The salary for the successful applicant may be significantly higher, based on applicant’s years of experience.

BENEFITS: Excellent benefits package that includes paid vacation and holidays; a retirement plan; health, dental, vision and life insurance.

Please submit a cover letter expressing interest, a resume, and three professional references during the application process.

Legal Aid of NorthWest (LANWT) Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. LANWT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

VETERANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY