Atlanta Legal Aid Society (Legal Aid) works to remove barriers to justice so that everyone can receive quality legal care, regardless of income. Through our 75 attorneys on staff, our self-help tools, and our pro bono program, we help our clients deal with some of life’s most basic needs. For nearly 100 years, we have been helping our clients to secure safe homes, have enough food to eat, get a decent education, be protected against fraud, and get legal protection against domestic violence.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society seeks a full-time staff attorney to represent low-income victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and dating violence with civil matters at its Cobb County office. This position is funded by the Legal Assistance for Victims (“LAV”) Grant Program. The Attorney will primarily handle divorce and child custody matters, but will also handle housing, probate, public benefits, and consumer matters. This position entails a significant amount of litigation as well as advice and referral, brief service, negotiation, mediation, and transactional work. The Attorney will provide on-site intake and advice at the legal services office of our grant partner, LiveSafe Resources (“LSR”), the Cobb County Courthouse, and/or the future site for the Family Justice Center, several days per week. The remainder of the Attorney’s work will take place at the Cobb County office of Legal Aid.
The Attorney will be responsible for developing and maintaining a collaborative relationship with LiveSafe Resources, other community organizations, and victim advocates; providing performance-based data to LSR on a quarterly basis for grant reporting; conducting domestic violence CLE training for volunteer attorneys and community education workshops. Attorneys at Cobb Legal Aid are also encouraged to participate in local bar and social service associations.
Qualifications: A Georgia bar license is required. Qualified candidates must have experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence in the context of divorce and custody proceedings; excellent interpersonal skills, communication and listening skills, legal writing and oral advocacy skills. The ability to work in a team and alone, adaptability, and appreciation of diversity and a strong work ethic are required. The ability to balance compassion and pragmatism in representing low-income clients is necessary. Demonstrated commitment to public service, participation in law school clinics, trial advocacy courses, familiarity with areas of poverty law, and previous work with low-income people are strongly preferred. Fluency in Spanish is highly valued.
Terms: The salary for a licensed attorney is $55,000+ depending on experience. The program provides generous fringe benefits, including paid holidays, paid time off including parental leave; health, life, and long and short-term disability insurance; partial payment for dependent health insurance; a salary reduction option for a flexible spending account; educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month (after a $65 deductible and set off of other loan reimbursement amounts); voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with 3% match; Georgia Bar dues; and CLE expenses.
To apply: Submit a complete application packet including a letter of interest; résumé; recent writing sample demonstrating your ability to research and analyze a legal issue; the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three professional references; and an official law school transcript. (A copy is acceptable pending your order of an official transcript). Please submit your application as one (1) PDF using our online application system at the following link:
Atlantalegalaid.org/jobs
For technical difficulties in submitting your application, please email [email protected].
Your application will be acknowledged. No phone calls please.
Out of concern for the health and safety of our staff, clients and their families, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society requires that all new hires be vaccinated for COVID-19.
ALAS considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status.