Attorney - Consumer Unit

Job Description

Job Description

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing legal assistance and advocacy for low-income individuals and families. We work to ensure access to justice and fair treatment in the areas of housing, consumer rights, family law, and other essential legal services. 

JALA seeks a zealous Florida-licensed attorney to provide civil legal services in our Consumer Advocacy and Litigation Unit. This is a full-time position based out of our Jacksonville office, primarily serving Duval County residents.

What you get when you come to JALA

JALA is the premier litigation legal aid firm in the Southeastern United States. We are mission-driven, and our team makes a difference in our community. As a JALA employee, you can expect immediate hands-on experience interviewing and counseling clients as well as litigating cases in Federal and State court. Staff are expected to take on challenging cases for our at-risk clients while being mentored and supported in taking on such cases. While there is a premium placed on initiative and self-motivation, you can expect to be supervised by lawyers who are recognized as subject matter experts in their field (JALA is the only law firm in Florida with two Florida Bar Consumer Protection Lawyers of the Year on staff, for example.) Our lawyers and paralegals regularly serve on local and statewide committees, and our lawyers have gone on to become hearing officers, magistrates, judges, and administrative law judges. In addition to the opportunity to litigate early, our lawyers and staff are trusted as professionals - we have adopted a hybrid work environment (although not all positions are able to work remotely). Regardless of what others may prefer, we embrace diversity and inclusion as a way to ensure we are the most prepared to offer the best and highest level of representation for clients, as this is what they deserve from us.

Salary/Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience. Sign-on bonus. Benefits package include, but are not limited to, hybrid work model, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, group life insurance, 401(k) (match 100% of deferrals up to 6% of compensation), generous leave policy (13 paid holidays plus 22 personal leave days in first year, one-month sabbatical every four years), and membership in Access Perks, a private discount network.

All employees must clear Florida’s Level II background screening. Information on the background screening process can be found at

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Compensation:

$70,000 minimum DOE

Responsibilities:

• Embrace and support JALA’s mission, standards, policies and procedures, and confidentiality guidelines.

• Maintain a commitment and sensitivity to problems of economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.

• Perform intake interviews of applicants and assist in screening regarding eligibility for representation and to facilitate case selection.

• Maintain a caseload commensurate with experience in order to provide full and effective legal representation and advocacy in consumer law matters.

• Representation may include appearance in state and federal courts, arbitration, defensive and affirmative litigation, negotiation, and all levels of service, as needed.

• Maintain and grow knowledge in a specialized area of law, and competence in related areas of law, relevant to consumer advocacy.

• Comply with all applicable regulations, policies, and grant requirements.

• Support, promote, and participate in community education and outreach; develop good public relations with client community, state and local bar, and other community groups.

• Direct and monitor activities of paralegals, legal assistants, interns, fellows, and/or volunteers.

• Ensure that all applicable client files, data, and reports are accurate and complete.

• Perform other duties and projects as needed to support JALA’s mission.

Qualifications:

• Member in good standing of The Florida Bar.

• Civil trial practice experience in a law school clinical setting and/or law firm.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

• Ability to effectively engage a diverse constituency of individuals and community stakeholders.

• Demonstrate resourcefulness and ability to take initiative in development and completion of projects.

• Computer literate, including proficiency in Google and Microsoft applications.

About Company

The mission of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. is to provide high-quality legal assistance to low-income and special needs groups, to empower them to accomplish energetic and affirmative advocacy, all to alleviate the circumstances, incidents, and causes of poverty and discrimination.

Developed during the Great Depression and subsequent recession of 1937, the organization that has become Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. JALA was born when a group of Jacksonville Bar attorneys banded together to provide legal services to those in need.

Called different names over the years, including Duval County Legal Aid Association, it was officially named Jacksonville Area Legal Aid in 1973. The organization achieved 501(c)3 status in 1976. JALA now serves 17 counties of North Florida, including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.