Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM), a nonprofit law firm providing free legal assistance to people living with low-income and groups serving disadvantaged communities, is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney in its Health and Education Justice Initiative (formerly the Education Justice Program). The Health and Education Justice Initiative combats the systemic issues that adversely impact child health and well-being, including education as a social determinant of health. The Health and Education Justice Initiative seeks to address these issues in Missouri through affirmative impact litigation and other impact advocacy tools including legislative, administrative, and media advocacy, informed by a community lawyering approach.

Responsibilities :

• Use litigation and other impact advocacy tools to address policies and practices that adversely affect children marginalized by lack of resources, race, disability, or other circumstances.
• Strategies will be informed by community and may also include: Impact litigation, Demand letters or letters of concern, Administrative complaints, Legal research, Legislative and administrative advocacy (within Legal Services Corporation or “LSC” guidelines), Negotiations, Media advocacy, Policy analysis
• Engage with a wide range of community partners in cases and initiatives to help carry out systemic advocacy.
• Work closely with and report directly to the Managing Attorney to identify and develop systemic advocacy issues concerning child health and well-being.
• Work with Managing Attorney and Senior Staff Attorney to participate in litigation teams for various cases that impact child health and well-being. The litigation teams can include attorneys in other LSEM programs and units (including our Director of Advocacy and the Teitelman Chair attorney) as well as national and local legal partners.
• Participate in individual advocacy and community education for the purposes of investigating systemic issues and forming relationships with members of the community.
• Preparing community education materials (Know Your Rights flyers, two-pagers, guides, and training PowerPoints).
• Performing other duties as assigned, including supervision of law student interns and mentoring of volunteers and pro bono partners.

• JD required; must be admitted to practice in Missouri (or eligible to be admitted).
• At least 3 - 5 years of litigation experience as a practicing attorney preferred but not required.
• Experience with federal and state court litigation preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law work and/or working with low-income communities required.
• Systemic advocacy experience preferred but not required.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills required.
• Community engagement experience and/or community lawyering skills required.
• Oral advocacy skills required.
• Desire to work on systemic issues or through a systemic lens required.
• Strong communication skills, work ethic, flexibility, high motivation, and teamwork required.
• Openness to creative and innovative ways of fulfilling the program’s vision and mission required.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage diverse projects simultaneously required.
• Policy or legislative advocacy skills preferred but not required.
• Openness to creative and innovative ways of fulfilling the vision and mission of our program required.
• Experience in the communities we serve is helpful but not required.
• Expertise or willingness to develop expertise in education law and other areas or issues impacting child health and well-being required.

What we do: LSEM advances justice through legal representation, education, and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness, and create opportunities for those in need. Since 1956, LSEM has provided high-quality civil legal assistance and equal access to justice for low-income people in 21 counties in Missouri. We accomplish our mission through systemic advocacy/impact litigation and individual case work in a wide range of substantive civil areas which are in our priorities, e.g., family law for victims of domestic violence, prevention of homelessness/housing, health, public benefits, consumer, education, disability, community economic development, and immigration. As part of our community education/outreach efforts, LSEM works with over 150 agencies and participates in over 35 task forces/coalitions and has a vibrant Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Who we are:

At Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, we embrace a culture that celebrates and promotes the many backgrounds, heritages, and perspectives of our colleagues and clients. We seek to hire individuals from a variety of backgrounds, who are professional, collaborative, and creative thinkers with a passion for our mission, and create an environment where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will make employment decisions based on merit.

How to Apply :

Upload your resume and cover letter through our online application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Salary & Benefits Information:

The annual salary range for this position is $66,000-$99,000. Specific salary offered to a candidate will be based on their relevant years of experience. There are opportunities for advancement, including raises. Excellent benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, a generous time off policy (starting at 4 weeks per year), 11 paid holidays, 12 weeks paid parental leave, 403(b) and 401(a) retirement plans, long-term disability and life insurance, employee assistance plan, and flexible spending accounts.

Submission Deadline: Applications will be accepted through Friday, October 31.

Equal access to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s office is available. Those applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/application process should contact Human Resources at the e-mail HR@lsem.org. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an equal opportunity employer.

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