POSITION: Staff Attorney
Are you ready to make a difference in people’s lives? We have a great opportunity available for you. Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. (SMRLS) is seeking to fill a housing attorney position in its Metro Region. The position is based in the St. Paul office.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide legal assistance as part of the housing unit, including cases involving admission to or eviction from subsidized housing such as public housing, Section 8 vouchers, project-based subsidies. Assist tenants in enforcing their rights when there are serious repair problems. Enforce fair housing laws. Review and assess legal issues related to mortgage foreclosure issues and mortgage rescue scams. Represent clients in negotiations, administrative hearings, court hearings and appeals. Represent eligible clients with cases venued throughout SMRLS’ metro service area. Assignments may change over time based upon client and firm needs. The attorney must be willing to maintain a caseload in compliance with SMRLS’ written practice standards and to comply with SMRLS’ policies, practices, and guiding principles in furtherance of SMRLS’ mission. Community education, outreach, intake responsibilities, and active bar participation are also required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with low-income clients, victims of domestic violence, and persons of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds is essential. Courtroom and/or administrative hearing experience is preferred. Excellent communication skills, ability to work positively and constructively with others in a teamwork setting, good judgment, and the ability to work hard, independently, efficiently, and under pressure is necessary. Applicants must be flexible and willing to take on additional duties as assigned by SMRLS. Applicants must be willing and able to travel to court proceedings, outreach/education activities and other SMRLS-required activities throughout SMRLS’ service area. Computer competence is necessary.
SALARY:
Starting salary of $53,509, or DOE, pursuant to salary scale, plus fringe benefits.
DEADLINE TO APPLY:
Open until filled.
Please submit cover letter, resume, and references via email only to:
Mary Moore
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services 55 East 5th Street, Suite 400
St. Paul, MN 55101-1473 Email: mary.moore@smrls.org
ABOUT SMRLS:
SMRLS is a non-profit law firm which receives federal, state, local, public, and private funding to provide free legal help to low income and elderly people who reside in 33 counties of southern Minnesota. As Minnesota’s oldest legal aid program (founded in 1909), SMRLS has established a tradition of partnership with the private bar, a bi-partisan legislature, the Minnesota Supreme Court and other Minnesota Legal Services Coalition programs to provide access to justice. SMRLS has an experienced, dynamic staff who provide legal assistance to about 10,000 eligible persons each year.
SMRLS is a client-centered organization which is committed to its mission of providing a full range of high-quality legal services, in a respectful manner, which enable clients to enforce their legal rights, maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse; and empower people and ensure equal opportunity, thus, helping people to help themselves and become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual abilities and circumstances permit. SMRLS values, welcomes and promotes diversity in all aspects of its work. SMRLS has adopted practice standards, guiding principles, and racial justice policies, to accomplish its mission.
SMRLS is committed to diversity in the workplace. Women, people of color, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.