Full Time Staff Attorney

Staff Attorney (Full-Time) HybridCLOSING DATE: Position Immediately Available and Closed When FilledLOCATION: Midland, Texas Abilene, Amarillo, Brownwood, Dallas, Denton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Lubbock, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Plainview, San Angelo, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Wichita Falls, TexasABOUT: 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.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. We have multiple openings across various branch offices and practice areas throughout our North and West Texas service area. 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.Staff Attorneys are responsible for delivering high-quality civil legal services to low‑income clients. Provide high-quality legal representation to low-income clients.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 reducing poverty through equitable access to civil justice.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 grant and funding requirements to ensure compliance with program obligations.Follow LANWT policies and procedures.Adhere to all applicable professional and ethical standards, including the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyers' Creed, and the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services to the Poor.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. Housing LawRepresent 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 LawRepresent survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in protective order proceedings.Handle divorce, conservatorship, visitation, and child support matters.Represent grandparents and relative caregivers seeking conservatorship of children.Coordinate with domestic violence shelters and advocates to support client safety planning.Consumer Rights and BankruptcyDefend clients against debt collection lawsuits.Advise and represent clients on unfair and deceptive trade practices, identity theft, and predatory lending claims.Advise clients on auto title loan and payday loan issues.Employment, Including Tax LawRepresent clients in wage and hour claims, including unpaid wage and minimum wage violations.Represent low-income taxpayers in disputes with the IRS, including collections, and Earned Income Tax Credit denials.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 elderly and low-income clients with resolving their property and clouded title issues.Prepare wills and other estate planning documents.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.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 AreasProvide 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.Ability to manage a caseload, think strategically, and implement projects effectively.Ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language.Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and serving low-income communities.Reliable attendance and ability to engage in occasional travel throughout LANWT's service area.Ability to understand, apply, and stay current on LANWT's grant and funding compliance requirements relevant to assigned casework.Fluency in Spanish (spoken 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:Currententry-levelsalaryfor a new attorney is $73,815 per year. BENEFITS:Excellentbenefits 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 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