DESCRIPTION:

Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc. is hiring a staff attorney to work in its Veteran Affairs Unit (VA) in Tucson. VA Staff Attorneys are responsible for the provision of legal services to Veterans in veterans benefit cases, including dishonorable Discharge designation cases. The VA Staff Attorney may be called upon to provide legal assistance to client in other case priority areas. The duties may include any of the following tasks:

• Develop a working knowledge of veterans benefit law, including and laws and regulations related discharge from services;
• Interviewing and providing legal advice, legal counseling to veteran and other clients;
• Providing limited assistance or brief services to clients;
• Case intake and file maintenance;
• Keeping current on the state of the law and procedures within their areas of practice, legal research;
• Preparing and drafting legal documents, pleadings, motions, briefs and appeals;
• Representing individual veterans, other clients and groups in state and federal court, including veteran’s court, administrative proceedings, and in other appropriate forums;
• Preparing and implementing an impact advocacy plan;
• Lead and participate in community outreach and education events;
• Lead and participate in staff and volunteer attorney training activities as trainee or trainer;
• Provide legal supervision of the law clerks, tribal court advocates, paralegals and support staff as assigned;
• Always act in accordance with the Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct and the SALA/NLADA Standards for Providing Civil Legal Services to the poor;
• Comply with SALA’s policies and practices;
• Perform any other related duties as requested or assigned by the Executive Director or his/her designee.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1.     Must be a member of the Arizona Bar, eligible for admission to the Arizona Bar, or pass the next exam; applicants licensed 2 years in another jurisdiction may practice by special rule.

2.     Must exhibit a high degree of sensitivity to the problems of the low income community and should be able to work with low income and community groups. They should have initiative, good communication skills and the ability to work well in a multi- cultural setting.

3.     Knowledgeable in the area of general civil practice on behalf of the low-income community.

COMPENSATION:  Salary range $50,050 – $86,962; Up to five percent additional compensation to individuals fluent in Spanish. Payment of bar exam and admission fees for those not yet admitted. Student loan repayment assistance. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility. Excellent benefits package including health insurance, disability insurance, and pension plan. Excellent work/life balance with thirty-five hour workweeks and generous leave provisions

EOE:

We are committed to an environment of mutual respect, collaboration, and equal opportunity for all employees, and strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, people affected by mass incarceration, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We believe in building and sustaining an organization that is reflective of the communities we serve, and is diverse in work background, experience, education, race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities. We believe that the resulting diversity is both a source of program strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness.

CONTACT:

Hiring Committee
Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc. – Continental Building
2343 E. Broadway Blvd, Suite 200; Tucson AZ 85719-6007
(520) 623-9465 / Fax: (520) 594-6554
Email: salahr@sazlegalaid.org
DEADLINE: Open Until Filled; Submit cover letter, resume, writing sample and three references