Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Salary : Starting at $75,000 annually

Background : The Second Step provides free, trauma-informed services for survivors of domestic violence throughout Greater Boston and beyond. We are dedicated to ending the cycle of abuse with our wraparound support, including safety planning, legal services, counseling, housing stabilization, support groups, and community education.

Job Title : Staff Attorney

Essential Employee : The person in this role is considered an essential employee and may be required to work on-site during a government declared state of emergency or weather emergency.

Hours : Full-time, 8 : 30am-5pm Monday-Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work when necessary. This position is in-person and some flexibility is required to attend to urgencies and emergencies occasionally. After 90 days, candidate is eligible for hybrid work consistent with agency policy.

Reports to : Director of Legal Services

Primary Objectives : The Staff Attorney is primarily responsible for providing direct legal services to survivors of intimate partner domestic violence. This includes interviewing clients and relevant witnesses, preparing and working up cases, and litigating / representing clients in court under, at times, time sensitive and high-pressure circumstances. As part of their role, the Staff Attorney must engage in outreach to and relationship building with various individuals and organizations, including : the legal community, courthouse staff, law enforcement agencies, medical providers, child welfare agencies, and schools. The Staff Attorney also assists the Director of the Legal Services Program with administrative, legislative, and systemic efforts to address issues that impact survivors of intimate partner domestic violence.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities :

Provide full representation and limited assistance representation to clients as appropriate, including but not limited to abuse prevention order hearings and custody, divorce & child support matters in District Courts and Probate & Family Courts;

Interview clients with a demonstrated ability to provide trauma informed legal services while gathering necessary facts and background information to workup and prepare a case;

Engage in frequent courtroom litigation and advocacy, with a demonstrated ability to fully prepare and master case facts, written pleadings, and oral arguments efficiently and effectively under, at times, time sensitive and high-pressure circumstances;

Provide legal advice, brief consultation, and / or preparation of legal pleadings on behalf of clients as well as targeted referrals to outside legal providers as appropriate;

Provide information regarding criminal proceedings and processes to survivors of domestic violence;

Ensure compliance with all Board of Bar Overseers (BBO) ethics standards, including confidentiality and ethical conflicts of interest;

Collect and record all relevant program data daily using TSSs case management system, including billable hours;

Organize and / or present periodic legal trainings to TSS staff, volunteers, and / or outside agencies on various relevant legal topics;

Prepare and / or present specialized community-wide trainings to both legal and non-legal professionals on domestic violence issues;

Attend legal trainings to maintain up to date knowledge on domestic violence legal issues;

Advance TSS Legal Services Programs profile in the greater legal community by establishing and maintaining relationships with other legal practitioners, community agencies and governmental agencies;

Participate in legal community collaborations such as policy groups, steering committees, focus groups and / or bar associations geared towards domestic violence law;

Participate in legislative, administrative and other systemic advocacy designed to promote the interests of domestic violence survivors;

Flexibility for very occasional evening work when necessary;

Attends All Staff meeting and trainings;

Represents TSS at community engagement and development events as needed;

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications :

JD and admission in good standing to the Massachusetts Bar;

Candidates must have an enthusiasm for and desire to engage in regular, frequent courtroom litigation and negotiations with opposing parties AND excellent courtroom advocacy skills that include but are not limited to : conducting direct & cross examinations, presenting and entering

exhibits into evidence, making spontaneous oral arguments based on written pleadings filed as well as mastery of case facts and a working knowledge of relevant caselaw, statutes, & judicial guidelines, responding with confidence, polish, and poise in high stress circumstances to questions presented by judges and opposing counsel;

Candidates with 2-5 years of litigation experience are preferred, including experience with Abuse Prevention Order / Harassment Prevention Order proceedings, criminal matters, and / or Family / Probate Law proceedings;

Candidates experience working as a 3 : 03 certified attorney and / or in a legal clinic is relevant as is frequency and quality of courtroom appearances;

Ability to manage multiple projects and cases simultaneously and with flexibility, and to prioritize competing deadlines; comfortable working independently and in a team.

Strong client interviewing skills as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills;

Ability to regularly problem solve and engage in crisis management;

Candidates must possess strong oral and written communication skills, with the capability of handling all aspects of complex matters that coincide with assisting survivors of domestic violence;

Candidates must demonstrate an ability to handle case work efficiently and effectively; demonstrated aptitude for productivity and the ability to meet monthly billable hours minimums is required;

Ability to work collaboratively & effectively with non-legal Second Step staff;

Demonstrated experience and commitment to providing legal services to low-income or otherwise vulnerable clients;

Experience with clients affected by domestic violence, crime, trauma, and / or mental health issues;

Experience working with racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse teams and client communities and demonstrated skill and self-awareness in how to effectively connect with clients and communities across cultural differences.

Candidates with proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese or another language are highly encouraged;

References from supervisors, colleagues, and / or judges that have personal knowledge of candidates courtroom advocacy skills;

Reliable car / transportation as attorneys must regularly travel to courthouses and meetings throughout the Greater Boston and MetroWest areas, in the following counties : Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Mileage and parking costs are reimbursed.

Physical Demands & Work Environment : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employee is required to operate a computer and telephone. Employee may be required to help move small items up to 25 lbs.

Salary and Benefits : TSS offers a competitive salary and benefits package to full-time employees. The starting salary for this position starts at $75,000, commensurate with experience / competitive with area legal services providers. Additional compensation for language skills. Benefits include 3 weeks paid vacation, 13 paid holidays that fall on a regularly scheduled work day, 2 personal days, ample sick time, contribution to health, vision, and dental insurance, agency hosted 403(b) plan, Employee Assistance Plan, and student loan repayment contribution. Additional benefits include agency-paid annual bar dues and ample professional development opportunities.

Equal opportunity : The Second Step actively seeks cultural and linguistic diversity in all programs. The Second Step is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, free from discrimination. The Second Step does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or genetic information. We encourage individuals from historically marginalized communities to apply.