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Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) · 2 months ago

Staff Attorney/Pro Bono Coordinator

Lakeland, FL

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$68K/yr - $68K/yr

Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to eligible individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties. The Staff Attorney / Pro Bono Coordinator is responsible for managing FRLS’ pro bono program, fostering relationships with various stakeholders, and maintaining a caseload in multiple areas of law.

LegalNon Profit

Responsibilities

Interviews, certifies eligibility, and identifies the legal problems of FRLS’ clients within a specific area of law and provides clients with appropriate legal assistance in the form of advice, referrals, or actual representation

Provide direct representation to clients as a staff attorney

Act as “Attorney of the Day” as a staff attorney

Co-counsel cases as appropriate with pro bono attorneys

Participates in outreach

Represents clients in court and before administrative agencies as deemed appropriate

Provides documentation, statistical information and other records as required by the Managing Attorney, Deputy Director or Executive Director

Participates in case acceptance, meetings, applicable work job meetings, pro bono agency meetings and agency program meetings

Participates in training to keep up CLE’s and required and legally relevant training as may be provided by the program and as mandated by Florida Bar rules

Adheres to office hours, exhibits a strong work ethic and excellent time management skills, communicates, and treats clients and staff with courtesy and respect, provides constructive feedback to other advocates (including paralegals) on cases discussed

Serves as a role model to support staff by promoting the values of hard work, high quality advocacy and treating others with courtesy and respect

Attempts to ensure accessibility of the local office(s) when necessary by serving clients, including rural clients, non-English speaking clients and clients with disabilities

Promotes good relations with the public, including client groups, service providers, press, and the private bar, attending/speaking at local meetings as appropriate and approved by the Managing Attorney, Deputy Director, and/or Executive Director

Develops and maintains familiarity with FRLS policies, as well as requirements of LSC, CSC and other funders, and adheres to those policies and requirements

Maintains accurate follow-up system to review cases when needed

Performs other duties as assigned

Manage the Pro Bono Program in the local office service area

Recruit attorney volunteers, law students, paralegals, and other professionals to accept pro bono cases and assist at pro se and legal advice clinics

Conduct on-site intake as needed at outreach events

Manage the flow of cases from intake to placement (case matching) with volunteer

Act as attorney mentor to pro bono attorneys

Manage and close Pro Bono case files through adherence to strict guidelines

Develop and implement various pro bono projects, advice clinics, and outreach events for the benefit of attorneys and clients

Develop and implement CLE trainings for pro bono volunteers and FRLS’ Staff

Develop and implement volunteer recognition programs

Work with various committees, bar associations, community partners, and the public to promote FRLS Pro Bono Program

Collaborate to establish and implement creative pro bono opportunities for attorneys in the service area

Submit articles for local newsletters, produce recognition ads, press releases, and other advertising pamphlets and brochures to increase participation in outreach events by attorneys and clients

Performs other duties as assigned

Qualification

Juris DoctorateBarred in FloridaLegal AdvocacyPro Bono ManagementCourt proceduresMicrosoft SuiteBilingual EnglishSpanishInterpersonal skillsCommunication skillsOrganizational skills