Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (“LASP”) seeks an attorney to manage the provision of legal services to veterans, particularly those experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. This position involves supervising, training, and motivating staff to provide the highest quality of client-centered, trauma-informed legal services in accordance with LASP program guidelines, the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services, and the Code of Professional Responsibility. 

LASP’s Veterans Advocacy Project (VAP) assists clients with significant physical and mental health impairments caused by trauma while serving in the armed forces. Cases require significant attorney involvement.  VAP staff includes 4 attorneys and 1 paralegal serving four suburban Philadelphia counties, along with 16 additional counties in central and northern Pennsylvania, where clients are represented in VA disability claims and discharge upgrades.

The Supervising Attorney will maintain a caseload that is appropriate to ensure that all managerial duties are effectively fulfilled. Cases will focus on the provision of legal services to veterans primarily in the areas of VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and Social Security, but will also require understanding of all issues facing LASP clients, including public benefits, consumer law and bankruptcy, employment, expungements, housing, family law, and other areas. The position is a full-time regional position based in Chester City, Delaware County, and will have responsibility for work throughout the service area. Staff currently work on a hybrid basis. Staff will be expected to perform in-office work and work remotely as needed.
 

MANAGERIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. With the assistance of LASP managing and supervising attorneys, supervise the activities of VAP. Services will include advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy, in accordance with LASP priorities and case handling policies.
2. Ensure that staff have accurate, timely, and complete information about the legal issues within their scope of responsibility, including training in their basic responsibilities and the laws affecting individuals and families living in poverty.
3. Evaluate staff annually and develop individual work plans which focus on quality of substantive work, assessments of caseloads and productivity, community involvement, and identification of training needs.
4. Conduct regular case review meetings to assign cases consistent with LASP policies, receive updates on status of cases, address concerns from staff, and share information on program-wide issues.
5. Attend monthly LASP management meetings and provide updates on VAP office casework, events, activities, and accomplishments.
6. With LASP’s Finance and Human Resources staff, ensure compliance with LASP’s fiscal and personnel policies and procedures; With LASP’s IT staff, ensure that staff’s required technology needs are met and suggest innovations to enhance service delivery.
7. Assist in completing monthly and yearly program reports for dedicated Veterans grants.
8. Assist the Development Director and other senior managers in seeking and applying for grants and contracts.
9. Plan local community education events and supervise the preparation of materials for these presentations.
10. Act as a liaison with the community and local bars and assist in identifying annual office priorities.
11. Assist the Executive team with recruiting, hiring, training, evaluating, and retaining excellent staff and work with LASP Human Resources staff to ensure that all employees comply with LASP employee policies and procedures.
     

CASEHANDLING AND DIRECT SERVICES DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Primarily represent clients before the VA, Discharge Review Boards & Boards of Correction for Military/Naval Records (DRB & BCM/NRs), Social Security Administration, and other legal fora which address issues for Veterans.
2. Interview clients, assist in determining eligibility for services, ascertain and investigate facts, and provide advice and counsel.
3. Assist in collecting and reviewing military medical records to develop strategies and arguments for presentation of cases. 
4. Conduct legal research and interpret statutes, case law, regulations, and other sources of law.
5. Prepare legal documents, including but not necessarily limited to, applications and appeals in VA and Social Security cases.
6. Develop strategies and arguments for presentation of cases and assist in preparation of witnesses for hearings and trials.
7. Represent clients at hearings, in trial and appellate courts, and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies.  
8. Review decisions and consult with LASP’s management team to determine the merit of potential appeals.
9. Participate in external professional and community organizations relevant to casework.
10. Conduct clinics, community education, and workshops, in collaboration with social services and veteran community organizations.
11. Engage in LASP team efforts to achieve office and program goals, including participation in program-wide affinity groups and task forces.
12. Develop knowledge of community referral resources and assess community and client needs.
13. Enhance skills and substantive knowledge through training, CLE, and other educational opportunities.
14. Abide by all applicable professional standards of ethics and practice.
15. Track client information through a database, contribute to reports by funders, attend meetings, and perform administrative tasks related to the work.
16. Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.
     

SUPERVISING:  

Staff Attorneys and paralegal
 

SUPERVISOR:  

Chief Counsel
 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Licensed or eligible to become licensed as a lawyer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Accredited (or ability to become accredited) with the VA; passionate commitment to public interest law and social justice and serving low-income veterans through client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy; three years minimum experience in law office management and litigation, preferably in a non-profit legal services environment, or equivalent experience as an internal candidate; excellent analytical, critical thinking, organizational, time-management, and communication skills; experience and demonstrated ability to work effectively with people experiencing mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury, and those experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless. Willingness to accept complex and challenging cases, identify systemic legal problems and develop and implement creative strategies and impactful ways to address those problems.
 

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Prior experience in veterans' law and policy, including, but not limited to: Knowledge and practice in VA and Social Security claims, including character of discharge applications and disability compensation applications and appeals, discharge upgrade and records correction processes, and applications to the BCM/NRs and/or Discharge Review Board; knowledge of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and individual military branch discharge regulations; experience with investigations, locating witnesses, making FOIA requests, and drafting affidavits.
 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: 

Base salary for attorneys with supervision responsibilities starts at $74,500, but salary is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits, including a 401K retirement plan with generous employer contributions, health insurance option in which 100% of premium costs are provided, ancillary benefits, and generous leave provisions, including paid holidays, floating holidays, personal leave, vacation, sick, and parental leave.

LASP is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate in the recruitment, selection, or advancement of employees on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information or on any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within LASP, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. LASP hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. 
 

TO APPLY: 

Send resume and cover letter including the job title (Veterans Advocacy Project Supervising Attorney) to Carolyn Johnson, Chief Counsel at Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, to Hiring@lasp.org. Position remains open until it is filled.
 

JOB CLASSIFICATION: 

Salary/Exempt