Staff Attorney, Family Law Unit

Position: Staff Attorney, Family Law Unit

Anticipated Start date: January 2024

Hiring Timeframe: Rolling

Application requirements: Cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references

Background:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is the federally funded civil legal aid provider for Philadelphia’s indigent community. We provide high-volume, high-quality, and innovative legal representation in administrative and court proceedings, including all levels of state and federal courts. We also provide community education, advice, referral, and support of pro se representation. Our focus is on legal matters addressing basic human needs: family safety, health, income maintenance, and home preservation.

PLA seeks to immediately hire a full-time attorney to work as part of its Family Law Unit, with a focus on cases involving domestic violence. The attorney selected for this exciting and rewarding position will help low-income individuals throughout Philadelphia navigate civil matters stemming from their victimization. They will collaborate with Women Against Abuse (WAA) and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Pennsylvania (HIAS PA) and be funded by the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW).

Responsibilities include:

· Represent victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, in matters of protection from sexual assault and intimidation, victim privacy issues in criminal matters, custody, divorce, and protection from abuse as well as linkages to other legal needs that impact victim safety;

· Drafting and filing civil pleadings;

· Advocating for victim rights in criminal court procedure;

· Participating actively in working groups and task forces to reduce and prevent domestic and sexual violence;

· Pursuing litigation and other strategies designed to reduce traumatization and empower victim-survivors.

Qualifications:

· Law degree and admission to a PA Bar, or a willingness to take the PA bar exam.

· Creativity, tenacity, empathy, patience, and a passion for justice for low-income individuals;

· Experience in family law preferred, but not required;

· Fluency in a second language, particularly Spanish, preferred;

· Ability to manage a significant caseload of individual clients;

· Excellent legal analysis skills;

· Excellent work ethic, organization, and communication skills;

· Excellent legal research and writing skills;

· Excellent litigation skills and oral advocacy skills;

· Experience and interest in policy work and other forms of systemic advocacy;

· Possess sound professional and legal judgment;

· Experience and ability to work with low-income and vulnerable diverse individuals;

· Illustrate a high-level commitment to racial justice advocacy;

· The ability to work cooperatively as part of a team

Salary and Benefits:

Salary is commensurate with years of experience based on the union scale. For example, a Law clerk (less than 1 full year practicing law without bar passage) salary is currently $59,000 annually. Attorney 1 (less than 1 full year practicing law with bar passage) salary is currently $68,500 annually. Attorney VI (five years practicing law) salary is $81,800 annually. PLA offers a generous benefits package in addition to salary: health insurance premiums paid in full for employees and family, cash incentives for health insurance opt-out, vacation, personal, and sick leave, thirteen (13) paid holidays, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution based on years of service, paid parental leave, life insurance and short and long- term disability benefits.

Application Process:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is an equal-opportunity employer. PLA values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, people who have experienced poverty or homelessness, and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply. PLA invites all applicants to include a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice in their cover letter.  Interested applicants should email a cover, resume, writing sample, and references, preferably in one PDF document, to work@philalegal.org.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the position will be filled as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified.