Staff Attorney - VOCA

Staff Attorney - Full Time - Maryland Legal Aid 

The Statewide Advocacy Support Unit office announces a full-time staff attorney position available to qualified applicants. The position is for an attorney with 3 to 5 years of experience to assist elderly victims and survivors of domestic violence, victims’ rights, and sexual assault in seeking protective orders, longer term family law cases such as divorce and/or custody, and assisting with other issues such as housing and consumer issues that are related to the violence or abuse. The attorney will be assigned to the Baltimore City office, but will also work on-site at CHANA, our grant partner. This is a grant funded position awarded through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), administered through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. This contract may be available through September 30, 2018.

Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to: Handling all functions related to case work from initial intake through representation of clients before all relevant agencies, courts, etc. Staff attorneys may be expected to work with other attorneys, law graduates, legal assistants/ paralegals, social workers, and students on cases or projects. Maintain case files in accordance with Maryland Legal Aid standards. Tasks assigned to staff attorneys may include any or all, but are not limited to the following:
1. Screen clients for eligibility and make referrals, as appropriate.
2. Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients.
3. Conduct factual investigation and analysis, and legal research.
4. Advise clients of results of investigation and research and counsel clients about their options.
5. Prepare pleadings, including but not limited to, complaints, answers, memoranda of law, briefs, etc.
6. Develop case theory and strategy for the representation of clients.
7. Prepare cases and represent clients in negotiations, hearings, trials and appeals.
8. Work with various community groups and accept speaking engagements as assigned by supervisor.
9. Continue professional development and education through attendance at Maryland Legal Aid sponsored training and other programs.
10. Perform other duties, as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.