Open Positions at Florida Legal Services

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Status: Exempt, full-time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc.

• Location: Hybrid Remote serving clients in Alachua County, FL with a physical office in Jonesville, FL. Ability to meet with clients, conduct community outreach, and attend court regularly is required.

• Education Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree

• License/Certification Requirements: Admission to Florida Bar

• Schedule: Monday to Friday

JOB SUMMARY

The Project Attorney provides a wide range of civil legal assistance including legal advice, representation, and advocacy to tenants at risk of eviction. Services are provided to clients throughout Alachua County, Florida, both remotely and in person. As part of a holistic approach, legal assistance may encompass a wide scope of civil legal issues arising out of housing instability, including eviction defense, tenants’ rights, tenant/landlord negotiations, fair housing rights, and access to public benefits, rental assistance, and other housing assistance resources.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides legal advocacy and assistance to tenants at-risk of eviction or facing housing instability.

Activities include:

• Responding to calls and referrals of tenants, conducting intake, and screening applicants for legal issues that can be served under the Eviction Prevention Project;

• Providing high-quality legal assistance and representation renters at-risk of eviction; conducting client interviews, fact analysis and legal research as part of litigation development; providing legal advice and limited assistance to clients; drafting letters, legal motions, briefs, memos, pleadings and other documents; drafting and conducting all aspects of discovery; engaging in effective and regular communication with clients, witnesses, co-counsel, experts, and others as applicable; and engaging in legal advocacy in court, administrative proceedings, and other forums as lead counsel or co-counsel;

• Providing client assistance with accessing emergency rental assistance or other housing assistance resources, if available;

• Developing and disseminating education and outreach materials on eviction prevention issues in Florida and conducts trainings and online presentations for tenants and attorneys working with clients facing housing instability;

• Traveling as needed for outreach and education activities and to appearances in court or other forums and for project management, client interviews, depositions, fact analysis, meetings with witnesses, and other case-related activities;

• Providing clients with appropriate information and making appropriate referrals for services, both within and outside Florida Legal Services;

• Assisting project team with reports and data collection required for the project;

• Attending stakeholder meetings and other public education events to identify potential clients to be served under the Eviction Prevention Project.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctorate Degree with 3 years of legal experience preferred.

• State or Federal court civil litigation or comparable legal experience, including housing issues.

• Excellent research and writing skills.

• Admission to The Florida Bar.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish), preferred.

• Consistent, high-quality attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.

• An understanding of race and gender equity issues in representing clients.

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities.

• Facility with social media and web-based communications and outreach tools.

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Ability to travel, including overnight travel.

• Knowledge of low-income issues.

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Suite software platform is a plus.

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary: From $70,000.00 per year, depending on experience

FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than June 15, 2024.

Status: Exempt, full time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc. 

Location: Flexible; Office locations in Newberry, FL and Orlando, FL 

• Services are provided Statewide

Supervisor: Director Attorney of Health Access project

Supervisory Responsibility: Outreach works and Volunteers 

Education Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree 

JOB SUMMARY: 

Provides a wide range of legal advice, representation, and advocacy to adult and minor clients seeking or denied health coverage through Medicaid or KidCare.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provide legal assistance to clients applying for or appealing the denial of their Medicaid or KidCare applications

• Conduct client interviews

• Advise clients 

• Draft legal motions, briefs, memos, and other documents in support of litigation

• Litigate cases in administrative agency hearings and appeals, trial and appellate courts and quasi-legislative forums as necessary 

• Travel as needed to hearings in court or other forums and for client interviews, depositions, fact analysis, meetings with witnesses, and other case-related activities 

• Recruit, train, manage, and supervise volunteer law students, legal fellows, and attorneys

• Prepare educational materials and presentations for public awareness campaigns, training of partners, and community education events

• Keep time records on a daily basis

• Attend department and program-wide meetings

• Act as a resource for staff in other substantive areas

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Juris Doctorate Degree. 

• State or Federal court civil litigation, or comparable legal experience. 

• Experience in Medicaid and public benefits advocacy

• Excellent research and writing skills. 

• Admission to the Florida Bar. 

• Bilingual with fluency in Spanish, both oral and written. 

• Consistent, high-quality attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. 

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities. 

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team. Valid driver’s license. 

• Ability to travel, including overnight travel. 

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice. 

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Workspace software platform is a plus.

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment. 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Keeps contemporaneous time records on a daily basis.

• Attends FLS internal department and program-wide meetings.

• Attends training programs that enhance capacity to serve clients.

• Acts as a resource for FLS staff in substantive areas covered by the Children's Health Access Project.

• Documents all data points required by FLS, funders, and professional responsibilities in the LegalServer case management system.

• Coordinates the provision of legal assistance to clients with other service providers to ensure that Florida Legal Services is not duplicating services provided by other agencies.

• Travel as needed for meetings, trainings, and other FLS-approved activities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary: From $70,000.00 per year, depending on experience, very competitive with public interest opportunities.

FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than August 31, 2024.