Staff Attorney -Rural Justice Grant

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION: Staff Attorney (Full-Time) Hybrid

CLOSING DATE: Position Immediately Available and Closed When Filled

LOCATION:          Denton, Texas 

Abilene, Amarillo, Brownwood, Dallas, Denton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Lubbock, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Plainview, San Angelo, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Wichita Falls, Texas

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 collaborations, 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 join our team as a staff attorney. 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: Staff attorneys are responsible for delivering high-quality civil legal services to low‑income clients. Core responsibilities include:

• Provide high-quality legal representation to low-income clients.
• Interview clients and witnesses with cultural competence and trauma-informed practices.
• Conduct legal research, gather evidence, and advise clients of their legal rights and options.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal documents.
• Represent clients in court and before administrative or quasi-judicial agencies.
• Manage a caseload involving significant litigation and justice-related advocacy.
• Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for clients and community partners.
• Design, develop, and participate in community legal education and outreach initiatives.
• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with community organizations, particularly those serving low-income and underserved populations.
• Collaborate with community partners to advance LANWT's mission of ensuring equal access to justice and improving the lives of low-income communities.
• Participate in local, regional, and statewide networks, including those serving vulnerable populations.
• Participate in strategic advocacy efforts that advance LANWT's mission of ensuring equal access to justice and improving the lives of low-income communities.
• Refer clients to appropriate services and resources within these networks.
• Attend evening and weekend legal clinics as needed.
• Supervise and coordinate the work of legal assistants, clerical staff, volunteers, or law students as assigned.
• Maintain a working knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations, LANWT policies and procedures, and grant and funding requirements.
• Adhere to all applicable professional and ethical standards, including the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer's Creed, and the ABA Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the managing attorney, deputy director, or CEO.

Staff attorneys may work in one or more civil practice areas based on office needs and experience. Specific duties by practice area include, but are not limited to, the following:

Housing Law

• Represent tenants facing eviction, including trial and appeal of forcible detainer actions.
• Advise clients on habitability, repair-and-deduct remedies, and unsafe housing conditions.
• Represent clients in subsidized housing and Section 8 voucher termination hearings.
• Assist clients with fair housing discrimination claims and reasonable accommodation requests.
• Negotiate with landlords, property managers, and public housing authorities on behalf of clients.

Family Law

• Represent survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in protective order proceedings.
• Handle divorce, conservatorship, visitation, and child support matters.
• Assist clients with paternity establishment and enforcement actions.
• Represent grandparents and relative caregivers seeking conservatorship of children.
• Coordinate with domestic violence shelters and advocates to support client safety planning.

Consumer Rights and Bankruptcy

• Defend clients against debt collection lawsuits.
• Advise and represent clients on unfair and deceptive trade practices, identity theft, and predatory lending claims.
• Prepare and file bankruptcy petitions and represent clients in bankruptcy court.
• Assist clients with credit reporting errors and disputes.
• Advise clients on auto title loan and payday loan issues.

Employment, Including Tax Law

• Represent clients in wage and hour claims, including unpaid wage and minimum wage violations.
• Assist clients with unemployment benefits, including denials and appeals.
• Advise and represent clients in wrongful termination and workplace discrimination matters.
• Represent low-income taxpayers in disputes with the IRS, including collections and Earned Income Tax Credit denials.

Public Benefits and Social Security

• Represent clients facing denial, reduction, or termination of SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits.
• Represent clients in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications and appeals.
• Represent clients at administrative hearings before the Social Security Administration and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
• Assist clients with public benefits overpayment disputes.
• Advise clients on eligibility requirements for public benefits programs.

Probate

• Assist clients with heirship determinations, small estate affidavits, and muniments of title.
• Advise clients on guardianship alternatives, including supported decision-making agreements.
• Assist elderly and low-income clients with resolving their property and clouded title issues.
• Prepare wills and other estate planning documents.
• Represent clients in probate court proceedings involving contested and uncontested estates.

Foreclosure Prevention

• Represent homeowners facing foreclosure and assist with loss mitigation and loan modification requests.
• Negotiate with mortgage servicers and lenders on behalf of clients.
• Represent clients in wrongful foreclosure and mortgage servicing violation claims.
• Advise clients on options to prevent tax foreclosure, including payment plans and exemptions.

Education and Health Law

• Represent students and families in education matters, including IEP and Section 504 plan disputes.
• Represent students in school discipline hearings, including expulsion and disciplinary alternative education placements.
• Advise clients on access to healthcare services and health insurance marketplace issues.
• Advocate for clients navigating long-term care and nursing facility disputes.

Other General Civil Legal Areas

• Provide legal representation and advice on additional civil legal needs identified within LANWT's established priorities.
• Respond to emerging legal issues affecting low-income communities, including disaster-related legal needs.
• Assist with impact litigation and other strategic advocacy initiatives as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed to practice law in Texas or awaiting Texas Bar reciprocity approval.
• Strong knowledge 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 implement projects effectively.
• Ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language.
• Ability to handle interactions calmly and professionally with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and judges.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to de-escalate conflict and communicate effectively with clients, opposing parties, and colleagues in high-stress or emotionally charged situations.
• Strong work ethic, accountability, and professionalism.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Cultural competence and the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and serving low-income communities.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently as required by the position, maintain reliable attendance, and demonstrate to accommodate both significant travel and in-office work as needed.
• Ability to understand, apply, and stay current on Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations, LANWT policies and procedures, and grant and funding compliance requirements.
• Fluency in Spanish (verbal and written) preferred.

This position requires regular use of a computer and standard office equipment, occasional lifting and moving of files or materials, and periodic travel to courts, community locations, and organizational meetings. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

SALARY:   Current entry-level salary for a new attorney is $73,815 per year. The salary for the successful candidate may be significantly higher, based on candidate'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.

LANWT 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