Description:
Description:Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc. (CCLA) established in 2003 is a Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funded, non-profit organization. CCLA provides free civil legal services to low-income and otherwise eligible residents of Broward County and is located in Plantation, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Our mission is to provide equal justice to underserved communities through quality and innovative free civil legal aid. CCLA provides legal advocacy for individuals in our community, helping thousands of economically disadvantaged residents to gain greater access to justice and much-needed legal assistance to remove barriers to a healthy and stable life.
CCLA provides legal assistance in the areas of Family Law & Victims of Crime, Economic Advocacy & Community Health (public benefits), and Senior Law for people age 60 and older. At CCLA, we provide quality civil legal representation and equal access to justice, regardless of their income. CCLA's vision is a community where everyone has the legal resources to thrive.
CCLA's Family Law & Victims of Crime Unit is currently seeking an Attorney to provide direct legal representation to victims of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking violence, sexual violence, and victims age 60 and older for their civil legal matters including Injunctions for Protection, family law cases, asserting and enforcing victims' rights in criminal cases, and other holistic legal civil matters such as those that negatively impact self-sufficiency like housing, employment, benefits, access to health care, and income stabilization. This attorney may also assist eligible pro se litigants with their family law matters, providing advice and brief service.
Specific Position Duties Include:
- Provides direct holistic legal representation to victims of crime such as intimate partner violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking violence, sexual violence, and victims age 60 and older.
- Holistic services for their civil legal matters such as Injunctions for Protection, Family Law cases, assert and enforce their civil rights in criminal cases, and other civil legal matters, such as those negatively impacting self-sufficiency including housing, employment, benefits, access to healthcare, and income stabilization.
- Responsible for all phases of casework, including, but not limited to interviewing clients and witnesses, discovery, investigations, negotiations, depositions, mediation, litigation, and legal research.
- Advises clients regarding crime victimization, family law, domestic violence, elder abuse, intimate partner issues, and their legal rights.
- Prepares for court hearings and mediations by analyzing probable outcome of cases, using knowledge of legal precedent, strategize and prepare arguments, direct examinations, cross examinations, client and witness testimony and evidence, and presentation of cases.
- Litigates cases including but not limited to: motions and full evidentiary hearings and trials in court, remotely and in person.
- Drafting of legal documents and pleadings such as petitions, affidavits, notices, and relevant motions.
- Reviews and evaluates applications for case acceptance.
- Searches for and examines public and legal records to support cases.
- Supervises paralegals. Assigns work to paralegals, reviews all paralegals' work, and monitors workload.
- Communicates case progress, status, issues and outcomes to supervising attorney(s) and/or Director.
- Oversees status of cases through case management system.
- Conducts outreach presentations at cultural and age specific community agencies and will actively participate in coordinated community response coalitions which collaborate on domestic and intimate partner violence services and victims' rights. Participates in domestic violence, intimate partner violence, elder abuse services and victim rights coalitions and groups.
- Complies with all program requirements, including, but not limited to: efficient case management, in good standing with the Florida Bar, contemporaneous note taking and time keeping, completion of timely reports, participate with coordinated community response organizations, and attend all mandated meetings and trainings and compliance with the CCLA Program Priority Plan within their particular areas of specialization and consonant with the Legal Services Corporation guidelines.
- Attends meetings and completes trainings as needed.
- Performs other duties as requested by Family Unit Supervisor and/or Director or as required by grant(s).
Position Requirements:
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. Florida bar membership in good standing.
- Two (2) years of family law litigation experience preferred.
- Bilingual (English and Spanish Creole) preferred.
- Skilled regarding the applicable laws and dynamics of intimate partner violence.
- Technology skills on platforms such as, Microsoft Office 365 and Teams, Zoom, and Adobe PDF.
- Effective communication skills (verbal and written).
- Attention to detail, interpersonal skills, resourcefulness, organization and multi-tasking skills.
- Demonstrated capacity to exhibit appropriate sensitivity to and trauma-informed approach for applicants and clients.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and in using virtual platforms (Zoom, MS Teams).
- Due to funder requirements, all applicants must pass a background check before employment begins.
Here at CCLA we offer our employees an outstanding and generous benefits package, which includes medical, vision, dental (100% employer paid for individual coverage), life, short-term, long-term disability insurance (100% employer paid coverage), supplemental insurance, and a 403(b) plan (tax-sheltered annuity plan) with an employer contribution.
CCLA covers attorney's Florida bar dues, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits, and attorneys have the opportunity to apply for student loan payment assistance.
Additionally, CCLA offers substantial discounts on gym memberships, parks, travel, pet insurance, and more, contributing to our employees' overall well-being.
CCLA is very proud of our work-life balance by giving our employees a substantial paid time off package which includes vacation, sick leave and over 12 holidays a year. At CCLA we offer our employees (non-probationary) a more flexible work schedule by temporarily working a hybrid schedule 2 days in the office and 3 days working remotely.
At CCLA, we foster a positive and supportive work environment where we work hard to provide exceptional service to our community. The work is both challenging and rewarding, and we take pride in the commitment and dedication of our team.
For more information about CCLA, please visit our website at www.coasttocoastlegalaid.org.
CCLA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.