Attorney - Florida Veterans Justice Project

Attorney - Florida Veterans Justice Project (FVJP)

• Status: Exempt, full-time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc.
• Location: Hybrid Remote, with physical offices in Jonesville and Orlando, Florida
• Applicant must live in or be willing to relocate to Florida
• Education Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree
• Other Requirements: Admission to Florida Bar

JOB SUMMARY

The Florida Veterans Justice Project (FVJP), a project of Florida Legal Services, is expanding to provide critical civil legal support and advocacy for Veterans across Florida, with a special focus on marginalized Veteran populations. We are seeking a Florida-based attorney to lead outreach and advocacy efforts among homeless Veterans and women Veterans statewide. Applicants must be admitted to practice in Florida. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working on a wide variety of cases for marginalized Veterans, including sealing/expunging criminal records, child support modifications, contesting fines and fees arising from the criminalization of homelessness, drivers license reinstatement, landlord/tenant issues, consumer law, Veterans law, and civil rights matters.

The attorney will provide direct representation, assist with virtual and in-person legal clinics, and support the FVJP team with other duties as assigned. The attorney will work remotely within Florida, with travel for outreach events and conferences. FLS has offices in Orlando and Newberry.

Essential Job Functions:

• Organize, lead, and participate in outreach events and Veterans community meetings
• Maintain an active caseload of clients, including direct representation in a range of civil legal and civil rights issues
• Supervise a paralegal who supports outreach, client interviews and intakes, maintains electronic case files, and assists Veterans
• Review evidence and analyze potential claims, including fact investigation and legal research
• Draft legal motions, briefs, memoranda, and other documents
• Advocate directly with administrative agencies, courts, and opposing parties on behalf of Veterans
• Monitor and track cases using the LegalServer case management system
• Work with supervisors, grant managers, and administrative staff to ensure compliance with grant terms and conditions
• Maintain contemporaneous timekeeping and detailed case records for grant reporting
• Advise, assist, train, and mentor pro bono volunteer attorneys
• Collaborate with community-based organizations and other allies to support advocacy and outreach goals
• Attend trainings, seminars, and professional meetings, and represent FLS at authorized events
• Work closely with the FVJP Director and other team members on all programmatic matters
• Respond to requests for legal assistance from Veterans and related community members

Education and Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree
• Admission to The Florida Bar
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience practicing law, with preference for experience in federal or state court litigation, Veterans law, poverty law, civil rights, or indigent criminal defense
• Excellent research and writing skills
• Commitment to using a trauma-informed approach when working with vulnerable populations
• Veteran status or military experience is an advantage but not required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent and consistent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational, and time management skills
• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team
• Well organized, professional, and flexible
• Ability to draft cogent arguments based on thorough analysis of legal and factual issues
• Ability to compare evidence with statutory and regulatory criteria
• Knowledge of Florida law and/or Veterans law
• Demonstrated record of zealous advocacy on behalf of low-income or marginalized people
• Innovation and flexibility in developing and delivering legal services
• Proven ability to work with challenging clientele, including those with mental health or substance use issues
• Willingness to work evenings or weekends as needed
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel extensively, including overnight travel
• Experience using LegalServer (or similar case management systems) and Google Workspace is a plus
• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment

Compensation:

Salary: From $86,000 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.

Florida Legal Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our policy is to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. FLS does not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment of any form and requires the cooperation of all associates in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free atmosphere.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $86,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: Remote