JOB TITLE: Staff Attorney – Employment Law

LOCATION: Philadelphia or Pittsburgh

STATUS: Exempt

SUPERVISED BY: Supervising Attorney - Employment

JOB SUMMARY: The new Staff Attorney will be responsible for providing legal assistance, education and advocacy on behalf of eligible clients of the program, with a focus on wage theft and other types of employment cases. Staff Attorneys are also expected to be a part of the organization’s efforts to be a partner in the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. While some remote work is anticipated, the successful candidate will be expected to be present in either the Philadelphia or the Pittsburgh office at least a few days each week. The anticipated start date is February 2022.

ABOUT JUSTICE AT WORK: Justice at Work is a nonprofit legal aid provider based in Pennsylvania. Our mission is to support workers in low-wage industries as they pursue economic and social justice. We advance our mission through the provision of legal services, education, and advocacy. We employ a client-centered model of service: we seek to address clients’ challenges based on the unique circumstances of each individual, with a focus on their viewpoint and goals; we recognize that justice is a process; we believe that the experience we create for our clients as we guide them through the legal process is as important as the ultimate legal outcomes we seek to bring about.

We have offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and provide legal services throughout Pennsylvania. We focus much of our work on Spanish-speaking immigrant and migrant communities living in small cities, towns and agricultural communities across the state. We strive to center marginalized community voices and are working toward prioritizing racial justice in our advocacy and among our staff, board, clients and volunteers.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate Degree and at least two years of experience working as an attorney in any type of practice;
• Pennsylvania Bar membership or ability to obtain Pennsylvania law license as soon as possible if hired;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Excellent Spanish language skills;
• Ability to work well with a wide range of people;
• Ability to facilitate and participate in challenging and uncomfortable conversations around race and systemic racism;
• Commitment to recognizing and promoting the dignity of all people;
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel independently for off-site meetings, trainings and to engage in mobile advocacy, in a rental car provided by us;
• Ability & willingness to adjust work schedules to meet client needs, including weekend and evening work;
• Demonstrated resourcefulness and ability to take initiative in development and completion of projects
• Flexibility
• A sense of humor!

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent relationship management skills;
• Knowledge of employment law;
• Experience representing clients in administrative proceedings, state court and/or federal court;
• Experience working with farmworker, migrant and/or immigrant communities;
• Experience working with individuals or communities experiencing structural oppression and/or extreme poverty;
• Experience interviewing individuals who have experienced trauma;
• Comfort with public speaking in a variety of settings and to a wide range of audiences.

Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality direct legal assistance to clients throughout Pennsylvania on matters such as housing, employment, consumer protection and immigration.
• Maintain a caseload commensurate with abilities and caseload difficulty.
• Maintain the highest ethical standards as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and regularly seek out information relating to changes to the relevant areas of law.
• Demonstrate dependability through good attendance, adherence to timelines and schedules, and regular communication with supervisor;
• Comply with all applicable regulations, policies and grant requirements.
• Ensure that all timekeeping, client files, data and reports are accurate, complete, and timely.
• Embrace and support our overall mission, standards, policies and procedures, and confidentiality guidelines.

Physical Requirements:

This work requires the following physical activities:

• Sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending, squatting, kneeling, stooping; good finger dexterity and feeling; frequent repetitive motions; ability to speak and hear; or the ability to perform essential job functions with reasonable accommodation
• Lifting (up to 25 pounds of files, supplies or minor office equipment)
• Requires substantial time spent typing
• Requires driving for up to 4 to 5 hours at a time

Salary & Benefits: Salary for this position will be commensurate with qualifications, and the starting salary will be no less than $60,000. We also offer up to $7,500 per year in student loan repayment assistance.

Employment at Justice at Work includes excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement plan, plus generous sick, vacation and personal paid leave.

Application Process: Accepted on a rolling basis but priority will be given to applicants who submit their cover letter and resume by January 10, 2021. Applicants should send a cover letter and resume to jobs@justiceatworklegalaid.org.

Non- Discrimination: JaW is committed to fostering opportunities for all, particularly those from underrepresented and marginalized communities. We follow an equal opportunity employment policy and employ personnel without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability status, veteran status, military obligations and marital status. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this position. These statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.