Open Positions at Florida Legal Services

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Status: Exempt, full-time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc.

• Location: Hybrid Remote serving clients in Alachua County, FL with a physical office in Jonesville, FL. Ability to meet with clients, conduct community outreach, and attend court regularly is required.

• Education Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree

• License/Certification Requirements: Admission to Florida Bar

• Schedule: Monday to Friday

JOB SUMMARY

The Project Attorney provides a wide range of civil legal assistance including legal advice, representation, and advocacy to tenants at risk of eviction. Services are provided to clients throughout Alachua County, Florida, both remotely and in person. As part of a holistic approach, legal assistance may encompass a wide scope of civil legal issues arising out of housing instability, including eviction defense, tenants’ rights, tenant/landlord negotiations, fair housing rights, and access to public benefits, rental assistance, and other housing assistance resources.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides legal advocacy and assistance to tenants at-risk of eviction or facing housing instability.

Activities include:

• Responding to calls and referrals of tenants, conducting intake, and screening applicants for legal issues that can be served under the Eviction Prevention Project;

• Providing high-quality legal assistance and representation renters at-risk of eviction; conducting client interviews, fact analysis and legal research as part of litigation development; providing legal advice and limited assistance to clients; drafting letters, legal motions, briefs, memos, pleadings and other documents; drafting and conducting all aspects of discovery; engaging in effective and regular communication with clients, witnesses, co-counsel, experts, and others as applicable; and engaging in legal advocacy in court, administrative proceedings, and other forums as lead counsel or co-counsel;

• Providing client assistance with accessing emergency rental assistance or other housing assistance resources, if available;

• Developing and disseminating education and outreach materials on eviction prevention issues in Florida and conducts trainings and online presentations for tenants and attorneys working with clients facing housing instability;

• Traveling as needed for outreach and education activities and to appearances in court or other forums and for project management, client interviews, depositions, fact analysis, meetings with witnesses, and other case-related activities;

• Providing clients with appropriate information and making appropriate referrals for services, both within and outside Florida Legal Services;

• Assisting project team with reports and data collection required for the project;

• Attending stakeholder meetings and other public education events to identify potential clients to be served under the Eviction Prevention Project.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctorate Degree with 3 years of legal experience preferred.

• State or Federal court civil litigation or comparable legal experience, including housing issues.

• Excellent research and writing skills.

• Admission to The Florida Bar.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish), preferred.

• Consistent, high-quality attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.

• An understanding of race and gender equity issues in representing clients.

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities.

• Facility with social media and web-based communications and outreach tools.

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Ability to travel, including overnight travel.

• Knowledge of low-income issues.

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Suite software platform is a plus.

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary: From $70,000.00 per year, depending on experience

FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than April 30, 2024.

Location: Hybrid Remote; regular travel required to Baker County and Orlando, Florida

Job Type: Full-time, exempt

Florida Legal Services (FLS) is currently seeking a highly skilled and motivated Immigration Detention Advocacy Project Lead Attorney to lead a project addressing the immigration legal needs of adult immigrants detained in a jail facility contracted by the US federal government.

Job Overview:

The Immigration Project Lead Attorney will be responsible for providing direct legal assistance to detained clients located in Northeast Florida, coordinating volunteer services, and recruiting, coordinating, mentoring, and providing technical assistance to pro bono attorneys. The role also involves the development of relationships with clinical partners, community groups, coalitions, stakeholders, and impacted communities.

Key Responsibilities:

Direct Legal Assistance:

• Provide high-quality legal representation to adult immigrants detained in the jail facility in Northeast Florida.

• Conduct client interviews, assess legal needs, and develop appropriate legal strategies.

• Handle a caseload of immigration matters, including bond hearings, asylum claims, and related proceedings.

Volunteer Coordination and Community Engagement:

• Develop and strengthen relationships with clinical partners, community groups, coalitions, stakeholders, and impacted communities.

• Prepare and deliver "know your rights" information to detained individuals facing deportation.

• Conduct legal screenings and legal analysis to determine cases best suited for pro bono placement.

• Place cases with pro bono attorneys and build relationships between Florida Legal Services and the pro bono community to expand legal services to detained immigrants facing removal.

Pro Bono Attorney Support:

• Provide ongoing mentoring, training, and technical assistance in immigration custody cases to pro bono partners.

• Develop and maintain pro bono resources, sample filings, and practice guides.

Required Qualifications:

• J.D. and admission to any state bar, Florida Bar admission or willingness to sit for Florida Bar preferred.

• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.

• Demonstrated commitment to advocating for detained immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.

• Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions and representing their interests.

• Highly organized and innovative thinker.

• Strong oral advocacy, legal research, and writing skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.

• Problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

• Ability to work independently, be adaptable and reliable in adversarial systems.

• Must be able to engage in regular travel to Baker County.

• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of minimum experience providing direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings, and knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred.

• 2 years of prior experience practicing before the Immigration Courts (EOIR and the BIA) or USCIS is strongly preferred. Other relevant court experience will be considered.

• Prior experience working with trauma survivors or individuals with mental health issues is a plus.

• Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, or criminal justice is a plus.

Compensation:

Salary: From $75,000.00 per year
Salary will be set depending on experience, very competitive with public interest opportunities.

FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than April 30, 2024.

The Director will coordinate an enhanced statewide training initiative for the providers of civil legal assistance in Florida. The Director of the Statewide Training Initiative will be a full-time employee of Florida Legal Services, Inc. (FLS) and will work collaboratively and regularly with both a statewide training committee composed of civil legal aid leaders and a committee of advocates from various legal aid programs across Florida to develop and implement a high quality core training curriculum that enhances the effective advocacy and professional development of civil legal aid lawyers through the state.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

The director of training will work:

• under the supervision of Florida Legal Services’ Executive Director and management

• closely with the training committee of the Florida Civil Legal Aid Association (FCLAA), the statewide Training Advisory Committee composed of legal aid advocacy directors and attorneys, the private bar, and law schools to implement curriculum and training modules for staff of provider programs.

• with FLS and other civil legal aid organizations to enhance the use of technology in training and the practice of law

• in an ongoing manner to evaluate the success and efficacy of the Training Initiative, and of the individual training events, and recommend adjustments as needed

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Training:

• A law degree with a background in training, or a similar professional degree in adult education, preferably with experience in the legal field, or

• Comparable experience in the provision of legal and professional development training, for legal staff and professionals

Experience:

• Organizing curricula for professionals

• Leading and conducting adult learning programs

• Utilizing technology in training, and law-related training development

• Project management experience is helpful

• Previous legal aid experience is helpful

Skills and Attributes:

• Demonstrated commitment to equal access to justice for the poor

• Strong leadership skills in leading a team to achieve project goals

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills

• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills

• Strong organizational skills, and time management abilities

• Technological proficiency with online platforms and software used for presentations, meetings, and interpersonal collaboration

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team

• Valid driver’s license

• Ability to travel extensively, including overnight travel

• Ability to communicate and work with legal services organizations, the private bar, law schools, and other law-related organizations

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others

SALARY/BENEFITS:

Salary will be set depending on experience. The expected salary range for a qualified candidate is between $75,000 and $90,000. FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees. Staff attorneys also may be eligible to apply for law school loan repayment assistance through The Florida Bar Foundation’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). FLS provides a pension plan.

LOCATION:

Flexible with opportunity for remote work with occasional statewide travel.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than May 1, 2024.

Florida Legal Services is seeking a full-time attorney to join our Survivor Advocacy team.

Location:

• Flexible;

• Office locations in Newberry, FL and Orlando, FL

Supervisors:

• Director of Survivor Advocacy

  VOCA Project Supervising Attorney

• VOCA Pro Bono & Immigration Supervisor

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Survivor Services Project Attorney provides a wide range of civil legal assistance including legal advice, representation, and advocacy to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Services are provided throughout Florida, both remotely and in person. As part of a holistic approach, legal assistance may encompass a wide scope of civil legal issues arising out of the victimization, including protection orders, family law matters, and legal issues related to immigration, housing, consumer, public benefits, education, and employment. Services may also be provided by pro bono attorneys, law students and other professionals recruited and overseen by the VOCA Project Attorney.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Legal Advocacy and Assistance to crime victims. Activities include:

  • Responding to calls and referrals to the Florida Legal Services Statewide Domestic Violence Legal Hotline, conducting intake, and screening callers for legal issues that can be served under the Survivor Services Project.

  • Providing high-quality legal assistance and representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Including but not limited to: screening potential clients for legal assistance under the Survivor Services project; conducting client interviews, fact analysis and legal research as part of litigation development; providing legal advice and limited assistance to clients; drafting letters, legal motions, briefs, memos, pleadings and other documents; drafting and conducting all aspects of discovery; engaging in effective and regular communication with clients, witnesses, co-counsel, experts, and others as applicable; and engaging in legal advocacy in court, administrative proceedings, and other forums as lead counsel or co-counsel.

  • Providing client assistance with crime victim compensation.

  • Travel as needed to appearances in court or other forums and for project management, client interviews, depositions, fact analysis, meetings with witnesses, and other case-related activities.

• Information & Referral - The attorney will provide clients with appropriate information and make appropriate referrals for services, both within and outside Florida Legal Services.

• Volunteer Engagement - The attorney will be responsible for recruiting and supervising volunteers to provide assistance to clients under the Survivor Services Project, including:

  • Developing and maintaining collaborations with pro bono attorneys, paralegals, legal fellows, and law students.

  • Recruiting and acting as the point of contact for volunteer attorneys, law students, and other relevant professionals in the provision of direct legal assistance to clients or legal support to the attorney.

  • Traveling as needed for volunteer recruitment and training.

  • Client Identification.

• The attorney will attend stakeholder meetings and other public education events to identify potential clients to be served under the Survivor Services Project.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Keeps contemporaneous time records on a daily basis.

• Attends FLS internal department and program-wide meetings.

• Attends training programs that enhance capacity to serve crime victims and efficiently perform work activities (e.g., Marital and Family Law training, LegalServer training).

• Acts as a resource for FLS staff in substantive areas covered by the Survivor Services Project.

• Documents all data points required by FLS, funders, and professional responsibilities in the LegalServer case management system.

• Coordinates the provision of legal assistance to clients with other service providers to ensure that Florida Legal Services is not duplicating services provided by other agencies.

• Travel as needed for meetings, trainings, and other FLS-approved activities.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate Degree with 3 years of legal experience (required)

• Admission to The Florida Bar (required)

• State or Federal court civil litigation or comparable legal experience, including domestic violence or human trafficking issues.

• Excellent research and writing skills.

• Bilingual with fluency in Spanish, both oral and written.

• Consistent, high-quality attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.

• Familiarity with, or commitment to develop, a trauma-informed approach to legal advocacy and an understanding of race and gender equity issues in representing victims.

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities.

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Ability to travel, including overnight travel.

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice.

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Workspace software platform is a plus.

• Experience in immigration law and/or criminal law is a plus.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary will be set depending on experience, very competitive with public interest opportunities.

• Opportunities for seniority and leadership are commensurate with experience and more experienced applicants are encouraged to apply.

• FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

How to apply:

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org.

Item description

PARALEGAL POSITION

SURVIVOR ADVOCACY PROJECT

Status: Exempt, full time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc.

Location: Remote with optional office locations in Newberry, FL and Orlando, FL

Supervisor: Director of Survivor Advocacy, VOCA Managing Attorneys, VOCA attorneys, Executive Director

Education Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree

JOB SUMMARY:

The survivor services paralegal provides support to the Florida Legal Services Survivor Advocacy Project. The FLS Survivor Advocacy Project provides legal advice, assistance, and representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking throughout Florida.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide paralegal services for crime victims, under attorney supervision, including litigation support, legal drafting, client interviews, case preparation, legal research, maintaining electronic case files

• Assist with intakes for callers to the FLS Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline.

• Provide crime victims with information, referrals, and advocacy.

• Occasional travel to client interviews, meetings, court, etc.

• Keep time records on a daily basis.

• Attend department and program-wide meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual with Fluency in Spanish, both oral and written

• Paralegal certification preferred

• Valid Driver’s license

• Ability to travel

• Excellent and consistent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities.

• Experience using LegalServer (or a similar computer-based case management system) and Google Suite software platform is a plus

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based, distributed office environment

• Commitment to social, racial, and economic justice is a plus

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Salary: From $50,000.00 per year, depending on experience. Very competitive with public interest opportunities.

• FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY:

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than May 31, 2024.

Status: Exempt, full time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc.

Location: Remote & Flexible; Office locations in Newberry, FL and Orlando, FL

Services are provided in Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach counties.

Supervisor: FLS Human Trafficking Senior Attorney

Supervisory Responsibility: Volunteers

Education Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree

JOB SUMMARY:

Provides a wide range of legal advice, representation, and advocacy to adult and minor victims of labor and sex trafficking, primarily in the areas of immigration, domestic violence and family law, civil litigation, wage claims, consumer and public benefits law. As part of a holistic approach, representation may include other areas of law as needed, administrative advocacy, and providing community education and legal information to clients. Also recruits, trains, and mentors volunteer attorneys to provide legal assistance to human trafficking victims, and establishes partnerships with, and provides training to, Central Florida human trafficking service providers, and others, in order to ensure that area providers are able to identify, refer, and serve victims of human trafficking.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Respond to calls and referrals to the FLS Human Trafficking Hotline

• Provide and legal assistance to human trafficking victims

• Conduct client interviews

• Draft legal motions, briefs, memos, and other documents in support of litigation

• Litigate cases in trial and appellate courts and administrative and legislative/quasi-legislative forums as necessary

• Travel as needed to hearings in court or other forums and for client interviews, depositions, fact analysis, meetings with witnesses, and other case-related activities

• Recruit, train, manage, and supervise volunteer law students, legal fellows, attorneys, and other relevant professionals in the provision of legal assistance to human trafficking victims.

• Prepare educational materials and presentations for public awareness campaigns, training of partners, and community education events

• Conduct trainings for project partners and area service providers on identifying, referring, and serving victims of human trafficking

• Conduct public awareness and education presentations on human trafficking in schools, community centers, DV centers, and other public forums

• Keep contemporaneous time records on a daily basis

• Attend department and program-wide meetings

• Act as a resource for staff in other substantive areas

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctorate Degree.

• State or Federal court civil litigation, or comparable legal experience.

• Experience providing trauma-informed legal assistance to crime victims.

• Excellent research and writing skills.

• Admission to the Florida Bar.

• Bilingual with fluency in Spanish, both oral and written.

• Consistent, high-quality attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities.

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Ability to travel, including overnight travel.

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice.

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Workspace software platform is a plus.

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Salary: From $70,000.00 per year, depending on experience, very competitive with public interest opportunities.

• FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY:

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than May 31, 2024.

FLS is seeking an experienced paralegal to join our immigration advocacy team and staff a HelpDesk at the Immigration Court in Orlando, Florida. The Immigration Court Helpdesk (ICH) paralegal will work under the supervision of the FLS Help Desk attorney and will assist the attorney in providing in-depth individual and general information sessions, conducting self-help workshops, and facilitating pro bono referrals to immigrants in removal proceedings.

Status: Exempt, full-time staff member

Location: The paralegal will be required to work at the Court, our nearby office in downtown Orlando, within the community, and occasionally remotely.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate and deliver group information sessions (GIS), individual information sessions (IIS), self-help workshops (SHW), Friend of the Court (FOTC) services, and referrals through ICH to indigent and unrepresented individuals in proceedings at the Orlando Immigration Court.

• Remain up to date on changes in immigration law and policy, and collaborate with other ICH staff in the development of new programming to respond to changes impacting unrepresented immigrants facing removal.

• Conduct client intake; evaluate matters for purposes of pro bono representation referrals; train and supervise volunteer advocates; develop and update materials for legal trainings.

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with funders; state and local social service providers; and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including developing appropriate communication and information sharing with stakeholders.

• As directed, represent FLS at local committees, coalitions, and collaboratives.

• Meet regularly with organization and project leadership to discuss project progress.

• As directed, provide in-house and community outreach trainings, presentations, and workshops.

• Train, supervise and coordinate law students, law interns, fellows, and volunteers to assist with the provision of ICH services, as well as direct legal services.

• Network and coordinate with other Orlando area non-profit legal service providers, law school clinics, and other stakeholders.

• Comply with program reporting requirements, such as maintaining monthly statistics and case reports, and reporting to funders and stakeholders.

• Maintain and update electronic files in our case management system, as well as physical case files.

• Travel as needed for meetings, trainings, and other FLS-approved activities.

• Any other duties as assigned by the paralegal’s supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license;

• Experience in immigration law; prior DOJ accreditation is a plus;

• Ability to travel extensively, including overnight travel;

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice;

• Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities;

• Bilingual in English and Spanish;

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Workspace, a plus;

• Experience with community advocacy, organizing, or outreach, a plus; and

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

Salary: From $50,000.00 per year

Benefits: FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY:

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than May 31st, 2024.