Staff Attorney – Poverty Focus
MARTINSBURG, WV
(Exempt Employee)
Purpose of Job
To provide high quality legal advice, representation, professional advocacy, and other appropriate legal services for low-income clients. This staff attorney position will work throughout our county service area. Frequent travel among these counties is required. The selected candidate will be instrumental in helping clients, particularly those with children in the household, break the cycle of poverty. This position is a chance to work in a variety of areas in the law and to work directly with community partners by providing outreach and community education on a regular basis. The candidate will have the opportunity to appear before magistrate, family, and circuit court judges.
Scope of Responsibility
Work performed in the office setting, in the courts, in administrative law proceedings, and in the community.
Essential Job Functions
- Provide legal representation consistent with professional and LAWV organizational standards for the delivery of civil legal services to the poor.
- Prepare legal documents, advise clients, gather evidence necessary to formulate defenses or to initiate legal action. Conduct research, interview clients, and witnesses, investigate, and handle other details in preparation for trial. Prepare legal briefs, develop strategy, prepare arguments, and prepare testimony in connection with cases. Represent clients in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies. Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations.
- Maintain accurate and complete files or records.
- New attorneys shall receive mentorship, training, and case reviews over the course of their first year.
- Attend and participate in substantive task forces focused on issues impacting our clients, like DHHR Benefits, Family Law, and Housing.
- Occasional night and weekend work hours; some local and out-of-town travel. Attorneys must be able to get to Court or Administrative hearings.
- Help LAWV engage the legal community and members of the Bar to provide free legal help to Legal Aid clients through pro bono work.
Job Requirements
- Must have demonstrable commitment to understanding and addressing issues of low-income constituents.
- Must have J.D. and be admitted to practice in West Virginia and in good standing or must be eligible for admission to the West Virginia Bar under West Virginia Supreme Court Rule 9 if admitted to practice in another state or must be eligible to take the next regularly scheduled West Virginia Bar Exam.
- Must have skills to use office technologies, including learning LAWV case management software.
- Must be able to balance administrative and client advocacy responsibilities.
Other Duties
- Attorneys will work with their supervisor to develop goals within program priorities and funding; and will work with their supervisor to identify individual training needs.
- Attorneys will timely prepare reports and complete forms and records necessary for client services or administrative tasks related to their job.
Salary and Benefits
The Attorney position is a salaried position with an annual starting salary range of $52,000 – $61,400. LAWV offers a generous benefits package, a 37.5-hour workweek, paid vacation leave and sick leave and health plan, as well as dental, vision, and life benefits. Staff also have the option to participate in a 403(b)-retirement plan and dependent and health flex savings accounts (FSA). LAWV is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Just a short distance from the Washington, D.C. metro area, West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle revives visitors with a relaxed atmosphere full of history, scenery, and small-town charm. Escape from the big city to soak in healing waters, shop at eclectic storefronts, and walk through national historic parks.
The Martinsburg office is in the fastest growing area of West Virginia, Berkeley County. It provides the tranquility of a small, charming town. The office recently moved to the historic district of Martinsburg and is within walking distance of downtown shops, restaurants, and the federal and state courthouses. The surrounding area offers plenty of adventure for the outdoor enthusiast and is rich in both state and U.S. history. The position will require some travel which will not only enable you to take in the beauty of the Eastern Panhandle but the opportunity to get to know the bench and bar in our surrounding counties. Our service area includes Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Hampshire, Hardy, and Mineral counties.
If you are passionate about serving others and want to do rewarding work, please send your cover letter and resume to jobs@lawv.net. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.
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