What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Attorney (Brief Services Consumer) position at National Legal Aid & Defender Association?
Position Description
Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks a Staff Attorney to work in its Brief Services Unit. Our non-profit law firm represents low-income people in a variety of civil legal matters including family, housing, consumer, public benefits, education and health law. The Brief Services Unit provides legal advice, resources and referrals to clients in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. The Brief Services Unit staff currently consists of a managing attorney, two staff attorneys and four intake paralegals.
Responsibilities: The Staff Attorney performs client intake and provides advice, brief service, and/or referrals in consumer matters including bankruptcy, garnishment, debt defense, and car purchase, repair and repossession. The Staff Attorney will also train and supervise intake paralegals, volunteers and law students; provide ad hoc guidance and advice to colleagues on consumer law cases; and conduct outreach to community stakeholders and the private bar. The Staff attorney is expected to keep up to date on emerging consumer law issues and trends.
Qualifications: A Georgia bar license and at least two years of relevant consumer experience is required. Applicants must have a strong work ethic; excellent communication and listening skills; the ability to balance compassion and pragmatism; good advocacy and writing skills; the ability to gather relevant information, thoroughly investigate facts, and make determinations regarding the appropriate level of service to be provided based on legal merit, priorities and resources. The ability to work on a team and alone; eagerness to learn and openness to feedback; adaptability; and an appreciation of diversity are required. A demonstrated interest in working with low-income people is preferred. Proficiency in languages other than English is highly valued.
Salary and Benefits: The salary for two years of legal experience is $58,000. (The salary offered may increase or decrease depending on the actual, relevant experience of the selected candidate.) Salaries currently increase annually based on a salary scale. We recently engaged a compensation consultant to review our current structure and make recommendations for improvement. The program provides generous fringe benefits including 18 paid holidays (in 2024), 6 weeks paid time off, 6 weeks parental leave; health (including optional dental and vision coverage), life, and long and short-term disability insurance; partial payment for dependent health insurance; a salary reduction option for a flexible spending account; educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month (after a set off of other loan reimbursement amounts); voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with 3% match; State Bar of Georgia dues; and CLE expenses. This position is fully remote with the exception of orientation and training. This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Application Requirements: Submit a letter of interest; resume; writing sample (advice letter, legal memorandum or brief); official law school transcript (a copy is acceptable pending your order of an official transcript); and the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of three professional references (preferably individuals who have supervised or managed your work) as one (1) PDF using our online application system at atlantalegalaid.org/jobs. Only applications with all of the requested documents will be considered for an interview.
Your application will be acknowledged. No phone calls please. For assistance with technical difficulties in submitting your application, please email career@atlantalegalaid.org.
Legal Aid considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks a Staff Attorney to work in its Brief Services Unit. Our non-profit law firm represents low-income people in a variety of civil legal matters including family, housing, consumer, public benefits, education and health law. The Brief Services Unit provides legal advice, resources and referrals to clients in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. The Brief Services Unit staff currently consists of a managing attorney, two staff attorneys and four intake paralegals.
Responsibilities: The Staff Attorney performs client intake and provides advice, brief service, and/or referrals in consumer matters including bankruptcy, garnishment, debt defense, and car purchase, repair and repossession. The Staff Attorney will also train and supervise intake paralegals, volunteers and law students; provide ad hoc guidance and advice to colleagues on consumer law cases; and conduct outreach to community stakeholders and the private bar. The Staff attorney is expected to keep up to date on emerging consumer law issues and trends.
Qualifications: A Georgia bar license and at least two years of relevant consumer experience is required. Applicants must have a strong work ethic; excellent communication and listening skills; the ability to balance compassion and pragmatism; good advocacy and writing skills; the ability to gather relevant information, thoroughly investigate facts, and make determinations regarding the appropriate level of service to be provided based on legal merit, priorities and resources. The ability to work on a team and alone; eagerness to learn and openness to feedback; adaptability; and an appreciation of diversity are required. A demonstrated interest in working with low-income people is preferred. Proficiency in languages other than English is highly valued.
Salary and Benefits: The salary for two years of legal experience is $58,000. (The salary offered may increase or decrease depending on the actual, relevant experience of the selected candidate.) Salaries currently increase annually based on a salary scale. We recently engaged a compensation consultant to review our current structure and make recommendations for improvement. The program provides generous fringe benefits including 18 paid holidays (in 2024), 6 weeks paid time off, 6 weeks parental leave; health (including optional dental and vision coverage), life, and long and short-term disability insurance; partial payment for dependent health insurance; a salary reduction option for a flexible spending account; educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month (after a set off of other loan reimbursement amounts); voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with 3% match; State Bar of Georgia dues; and CLE expenses. This position is fully remote with the exception of orientation and training. This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Application Requirements: Submit a letter of interest; resume; writing sample (advice letter, legal memorandum or brief); official law school transcript (a copy is acceptable pending your order of an official transcript); and the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of three professional references (preferably individuals who have supervised or managed your work) as one (1) PDF using our online application system at atlantalegalaid.org/jobs. Only applications with all of the requested documents will be considered for an interview.
Your application will be acknowledged. No phone calls please. For assistance with technical difficulties in submitting your application, please email career@atlantalegalaid.org.
Legal Aid considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Salary : $58,000
