Description:
Position Summary:The Safe & Stable Families Project (SSF) Staff Attorney will serve survivors of intimate partner abuse across SSF's programs, by providing direct and limited legal representation and advice, supporting legal clinics and educational programs in the community, and supporting attorney volunteers who represent survivors.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides advice & counsel, limited scope representation, and direct representation to survivors of intimate partner abuse in their Temporary Protective Order (TPO) and family law cases, including via brief telephone consultations.
- Conducts legal research, drafts pleadings and memos, and other legal documents necessary to provide high quality representation.
- Represents – and oversees law students in representing – survivors in their civil family violence matters, including case preparation.
- Appears in court to represent survivors at their hearings, status conferences, mediations and trials.
- Helps to assess which cases are appropriate for acceptance into the program and/or placement with volunteer attorneys.
- Keeps client and party records updated in Salesforce.
- Provides advice via phone and in person to survivors with upcoming temporary protective order hearings and answers Safe Families Office (SFO) advocate and client legal questions while intakes occur.
- Conducts initial client intake interviews and prepares appropriate pleadings for survivors of intimate partner abuse who are seeking Ex Parte Protective Orders; assists survivors in filing follow-up motions and other administrative tasks necessary to support the work of the Safe Families Office (SFO). Attorney will work in the SFO office inside the Fulton County Courthouse at least two days a week.
- Attends clinics and educational forums in the community to inform survivors of intimate partner abuse of their civil legal remedies. Including but not limited to the mobile Know Your Rights clinics.
- Participates in Intimate Partner Abuse trainings, Guardian ad Litem trainings, and other trainings when needed, as organized by the SSF Volunteer Engagement Manager.
- Presents trainings to private bar attorneys on various topics related to intimate partner violence; conducts legal research and attends trainings to stay informed on the most up-to-date practices and information in the field of intimate partner abuse.
- Builds and maintains relationships with all project partners including Fulton County Court personnel, law enforcement, and community advocacy organizations; communicate with same as necessary to collaborate and ensure quality services are delivered to survivors of intimate partner abuse.
- Participates in court and county task forces, committees, and bar activities, as workable, to maintain relationships with other service providers, promote AVLF and expand reach of the SSF program.
- Participates in and supports outreach for SSF.
- Supports SSF programs as needed. Including programmatic duties at various worksites.
Education and Experience:
Must be a member of the Georgia Bar in good standing with no disciplinary history, with at least three years of family law, litigation, and/or TPO legal experience. Courtroom experience strongly preferred. Must have or be willing to obtain notary certification.
Knowledge and Skill Requirements:
- Experience working with and advocating for survivors of intimate partner abuse preferred
- Experience working with clients of diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds preferred
- Excellent critical-thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills
- The capacity to manage multiple projects and assignments simultaneously, often with competing deadlines
- Excellent communication skills, including ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of people to both understand, support, and convey the clients' and advocates' needs
- Strong collaborative skills
- Ability to derive creative solutions
- Must be respectful and responsive to cultural beliefs and practices within a client's community
- Attention to detail and a commitment to executing with excellence
- Must be organized and able to prioritize clients' needs effectively
- Proficient with MS Office Suite. Experience using Salesforce is a plus