Staff Attorney
Community Redevelopment/Environmental Justice
Position:
Lone Star Legal Aid needs an exceptionally dedicated full-time Staff Attorney for its new Environmental Justice Project. This is an ideal job for an attorney who wants to join an effective, dynamic team working to foster community redevelopment by fighting environmental degradation and by helping residents and environmental justice communities create safer living spaces through education, collaboration, self-advocacy, and direct legal representation.
Summary of Responsibilities:
The Staff Attorney will be responsible for accomplishing the project goals with four primary activities:
1. Community outreach and education, relationship building in affected communities, and establishing strategic and collaborative partnerships;
2. Legal support and transactional work for community organizations;
3. Advice and legal counsel to promote self-advocacy; and
4. Direct legal representation before state and federal agencies and courts by advocating through the administrative processes and litigation.
The Staff Attorney must be able to gather evidence, conduct civil lawsuits, draft legal documents and advise clients about their legal rights. The Staff Attorney must also be able to interview clients and witnesses, as well as handle other details in preparation for client legal representation. The Staff Attorney may supervise and coordinate activities of other legal, clerical, volunteer, or student workers. She/he will be expected to handle a caseload, major litigation, attend evening legal clinics and community meetings, and travel extensively and occasionally overnight.
Location:
The Staff Attorney will be housed in Lone Star Legal Aid’s Houston Branch Office with extensive travel throughout Harris, Brazoria, Matagorda, Galveston, and Jefferson Counties and possibly other locales. The Staff Attorney must have reliable transportation.
Compensation
- $54,000 to $100,000 annual salary, depending upon experience and bar admission date
- Generous fringe benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid leave, retirement benefits after first year, and parking stipend
Qualifications:
- Graduate of an accredited law school with environmental law coursework
- Licensed to practice in Texas or qualify for reciprocity
- Prior legal services, public interest, or environmental law experience preferred
- Strong legal writing and oral communication skills
- Experience with or demonstrated commitment to low-income and/or vulnerable populations
- Skilled in interviewing, assessment, problem solving and negotiation
- Strong ability to work under pressure, independently, and make decisions quickly
- Demonstrated ability to aggressively pursue the rights of the client community
- Preference will be given to applicants with bilingual ability in Spanish or Vietnamese.
Please send a letter of interest (including where you saw the position announcement), a legal writing sample, a current résumé, and a list of three professional references to HumanResources@lonestarlegal.org. Include “SA– EJP” in subject line of e-mail.
Submission deadline: Open Until Filled.
This position is open to all persons, without regard to race/ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religion.
LSLA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.