Staff Attorney

Pine Tree Legal Assistance seeks a full-time attorney in our Lewiston office, whose work will be split between general legal services (60%) and specialized legal services to victims of sexual assault or domestic violence (40%) for low-income individuals living in Androscoggin, Oxford, and Franklin Counties.  With respect to general legal services, the attorney will be in court throughout the service area on a regular basis to provide representation in consumer, landlord/tenant and benefits (including both health and income benefits) as well as provide administrative advocacy in a range of different civil needs, working in partnership with a local full-time attorney and paralegal in the Lewiston office.   A VOCA contract  supports high-quality, low-barrier services to survivors of sexual assault, including child sexual abuse victims and their non-offending parents and caregivers. The attorney does this work in partnership with a full-time attorney and paralegal, together with staff at Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services and the local Child Advocacy Center (CAC).  The position could drop to part-time in late 2021 if the VOCA contract is not renewed.

All staff attorneys at Pine Tree are also expected to handle cases that have been prioritized by program funders or which have emerged as critical needs within the local client community.  While the typical caseload is handled at the District Court level, the attorney may handle administrative appeals to the Superior Court as well as appeals to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Depending on experience, the attorney may also handle cases in federal court. While many cases are resolved in summary proceedings and can be completed with 5 – 10 hours of legal time, others present more complex issues and require more time. Regular travel throughout the service area should be expected, as well as to statewide trainings and meetings.  In each field office, the attorney is also expected to provide supervision support for the work of the local office paralegal, both in the provision of limited legal assistance and in other work specific to the attorney’s caseload. The attorney is also responsible for community engagement and networking to strengthen Pine Tree’s reputation and access to legal services by eligible individuals, consistent with other work and time commitments. Based on expertise and experience, these activities will include development of written client education materials, the provision of outreach and/or trainings to staff, community agencies and other groups that serve low-income individuals, and/or work on collaborations or other initiatives designed to address specific legal needs of low-income individuals. It can also involve recruitment, training and supervision of law student and undergraduate interns and volunteers in the office, as well as support of pro bono volunteers in the community. Specific decisions about how to prioritize between these time commitments are made in consultation with the attorney supervisor.

In each program office, the attorney is expected to be a valued contributor and supportive colleague to other members of the office and to the program as a whole. Previous litigation experience and the demonstrated capacity to handle a high volume practice are required. The attorney must be admitted to the practice of law in Maine or eligible to practice under MRCP 89 (c).  A complete job description is available upon request.

Pay and Benefits: The salary range for PTLA attorneys in 2020 is $52,750 -$89,750, depending on experience.  PTLA has a very generous benefit and leave package.  Additionally, PTLA staff attorneys are eligible to participate in a LRAP program administered by the Maine Justice Foundation in addition to other loan forgiveness programs for which they may be eligible, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.