Job Title: Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Staff Attorney
Job Type: Full-time, $60,000/year (grant funded and non-negotiable)
Salary & Benefits: Medical/dental insurance; vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
Application Deadline: June 15, 2021
Start Date: July 1, 2021
Mission Statement
Tacomaprobono (TPB) is a nonprofit organization providing clients with legal representation, self-help materials, and paralegal support to combat systemic inequality and racism by ensuring meaningful access to justice for low-income individuals who have civil legal needs in Pierce County, Washington.
Nature of Work
The TPB VOCA Staff Attorney will provide civil legal assistance to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment and other crimes. Services will include advice and counsel, brief services at follow-up appointments, and extended representation and litigation. The TPB VOCA Staff Attorney will assist clients with protection orders, family law proceedings, as well as address legal issues surrounding collateral impacts of victimization. The TPB VOCA Staff Attorney position will be an essential part of the Integrated Rural Legal Assistance Project (IRLAP) in Pierce County, partnering with VOCA-funded staff attorneys located in the Tacoma offices of Northwest Justice Project (NJP) and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP). This project seeks to provide legal services primarily (but not exclusively) to victims who have significant barriers accessing legal assistance due to limited English proficiency (LEP), immigration status, rural isolation, and other factors that make them particularly vulnerable.
Essential VOCA Staff Attorney Functions
· Provide legal assistance to clients in urgent situations to ensure the safety of the survivor and their family.
· Collaborate with Pierce County IRLAP partners, other Washington VOCA-funded attorneys, community partners, and victim service and advocacy agencies in order to conduct community outreach, identify the most significant problems experienced by the target population, improve delivery of services, and develop systemic solutions.
· Collaborate with TPB staff to improve and enhance existing family law programs.
· Mentor and supervise interns, externs and volunteers as needed.
· Participate in general program volunteer recruitment and CLE trainings.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions. Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time; interact with computer screens and manipulate essential computer components (i.e. mouse and keyboard). Mobility around the office, and abilities to bend/stoop, push/pull, and perform unassisted lifting consistent with the job duties are required.
Experience and Qualifications
· Licensed to practice law in Washington; family law, courtroom, and trial experience preferred.
· Experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crime victims; ability to work with clients experiencing severe trauma.
· Cultural competency; especially with crime victims, seniors, people with limited English proficiency and clients with physical or mental disabilities.
· Practice working directly with low-income clients and individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
· Exposure to and comfort working with interpreters.
· Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively with others.
· Established commitment to providing civil legal services to low-income clients.
· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and LegalServer or other case management software.
To Apply
For consideration, submit a letter of interest, resume, and 3 professional references to Carly Roberts, Executive Director, at carly@tacomaprobono.org.
Tacomaprobono provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, national origin, age, genetics, disability, citizenship, immigration, or veteran status. Along with federal law requirements, the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.