Description

The Legal Advocacy Program serves clients by representing them in domestic violence-related family law and abuse prevention matters in the courts of Greater Boston; representing survivors in filing affirmative applications for immigration relief; offering brief service and legal advocacy where representation is not provided; and managing a Legal HelpLine for telephone assistance and intake purposes. The Family Law Staff Attorney will provide legal services to the Legal Advocacy Program’s clients and reports to the Family Law Senior Staff Attorney.
 
Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides legal consultations to Casa Myrna program participants, community clients, and Legal HelpLine callers in order to identify and analyze their legal issues.
• Educates survivors about their options so they can make their own informed decisions, with the goal of minimizing the risk of outcomes that jeopardize safety and wellbeing.
• Provides representation to survivors in 209A proceedings in District Courts; maintains a caseload of family law domestic violence-related cases thereby enhancing access to legal remedies for those affected by abuse.
• Provides legal assistance in the form of “brief service” to Legal Advocacy Program clients for whom limited or full representation is not offered by assisting them with legal advice and the preparation of court documents and facilitating referrals.
• Advocates for clients in collateral legal matters such as housing, benefits and immigration.
• Seeks and attends relevant professional development trainings, conferences and coalition meetings within Casa Myrna and the community.
• Collaborates with Senior Staff Attorney on outreach and legal education for participants in other Casa Myrna programs, community members, law schools, and partner organizations.
• Participates in weekly program and case assessment meetings.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Managing Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney.

Requirements

Qualifications and Requirements

• Committed to Casa Myrna’s mission of ending domestic and dating violence, and promoting social justice and social change.
• J.D. degree; admission to and good standing in the Massachusetts bar required.
• Spoken fluency in a second language preferred but not required (with preference for Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole).
• Strong preference for candidates who identify as a member of a marginalized community as Casa Myrna works to be an inclusive and equitable organization.
• Experience in providing legal services (as a law student or attorney) to survivors of trauma, abuse and/or exploitation required; some family law and/or immigration experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize appropriate, non-judgmental communication techniques when responding to survivors that illustrates sensitivity to their experiences and needs. Prior experience interviewing and counseling survivors of trauma and abuse preferred.
• Ability to work and advocate in a collaborative style with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic groups, as well as diversity based on ability/disability, sexual orientation and religion.
• Familiarity with local legal services providers, community agencies, and resources.
• Computer literacy and strong data entry skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team with lawyer and non-lawyer colleagues.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• Models and maintains professional boundaries with callers, clients, and colleagues.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding clients and program participants.