Job Announcement
Position: Staff Attorney
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota seeks to fill the position for staff attorney at its Grand Rapids Office. The Grand Rapids Office provides civil legal services to eligible individuals in Itasca, Aitkin and Cass counties.
Organization:
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNEM) provides legal representation to low-income and senior citizens in 11 counties with offices in Duluth, Grand Rapids, Virginia and satellite offices in Brainerd and Pine City. In the 66 years since LASNEM was founded, we have become an integral part of the justice system and a cornerstone of Northeastern Minnesota’s commitment to the proposition that equal access to justice is a basic human right. In addition to a full range of general poverty law services, LASNEM operates special projects to focus on the unique needs of the clients we serve, such as the Senior Law Project, the Native American Outreach Project in Itasca County, Domestic Violence Courts in both Crow Wing and Itasca Counties, and integral work for partnerships to prevent homelessness. LASNEM is also one of the seven legal services programs that form the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition.
In every case that we handle, our goal is always to help our clients reach sustainable, holistic resolutions to the problems they face. Legal problems do not arise in a vacuum, nor does resolving a legal matter always achieve the client’s goals of safety, stability and opportunity. To that end, we work closely with a large number of community partners all across our service area. Working in tandem with our community partners can often spark a virtuous cycle of success for our mutual clients.
Responsibilities:
The staff attorney position at the Grand Rapids location requires the representing lowincome individuals in all areas of poverty law, such as family law, orders for protection, landlord/tenant disputes, evictions, utilities, public benefits, consumer, expungement and other civil matters. The types of services provided include legal advice, brief service or extended representation. Aside from direct services, the staff attorney position requires preparing and delivering client and attorney training and other community education; conducting intake and outreach; appearing in administrative and judicial forums; active bar participation and special legal and community projects impacting low income clients.
The staff attorney position is currently one of two attorney positions housed at the Grand Rapids office. The staff attorney’s work will be supported by staff in the Grand Rapids office, and the staff attorney will be supervised by the Director of Advocacy, who is based in another LASNEM branch office. Therefore, the staff attorney must have strong communication skills and willingness to connect virtually, electronically, in person or on the phone with their fellow team members. Training, mentoring and support will be consistently available for the new staff attorney at the Grand Rapids office by both the Director of Advocacy and fellow LASNEM attorneys and paralegals.
Qualifications:
Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota or eligible for admission by motion or reciprocity. Previous experience in poverty law is preferred but not required.
Demonstrable awareness and sensitivity to the needs of the populations we serve is necessary. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license, working vehicle and willingness to travel to court proceedings, outreach opportunities, staff meetings and trainings. Excellent written and communication skills, ability to work constructively with others, ability and willingness to work hard, good judgment and willingness to work
independently are all necessary qualifications for this position. Applicants must be flexible and willing to accept additional duties as necessary.
Compensation:
Starting at $50,000.00 + depending on years of experience, pursuant to the LASNEM
salary scale.
LASNEM offers excellent health, vacation and 403(b) benefits.
LASNEM attorneys may also be eligible for LRAP (http://lrapmn.org) and federal student
loan forgiveness programs.
More information available upon request.
Deadline to Apply: Friday, February 28, 2020.
Please submit a cover letter, resume and list of three references via email only to:
Dori Streit, Executive Director,
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota
424 W. Superior St., Suite 302
Duluth, MN 55802
dstreit@lasnem.org
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, religion, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, age or veterans’ status is not permitted.