Description:
Overview:Salary Range:
$40.00 - $40.00 Hourly
Position Type:
Part Time
Category
Legal
Legal
Description:
About Us:
For more than 40 years, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP) has been a leading force for equal access to justice, providing life-changing legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout San Diego County. Through the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys, we help thousands of low-income individuals and families navigate critical legal challenges each year. In 2024, we reached new milestones: nearly 450 volunteer attorneys contributed more hours than ever before, enabling SDVLP to take on a record 7,500 cases. Together, we helped survivors of domestic violence find safety, prevented families from becoming homeless, and secured brighter futures for children in foster care.
If you are looking for work with purpose, a mission you can believe in, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, we invite you to join SDVLP. Together, we can transform lives and strengthen our community, one client, one family, and one case at a time.
What You'll Do:
The Staff Attorney works closely with SDVLP's Pro Bono team and is responsible for mentoring, training, recruiting, and guiding the work of pro bono attorneys representing SDVLP clients.
Primary responsibilities include:
Pro Bono Program Support
Client Advocacy & Legal Services
Community Outreach & Education
Program Administration & Leadership
Qualifications:
What You'll Bring
For more than 40 years, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP) has been a leading force for equal access to justice, providing life-changing legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout San Diego County. Through the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys, we help thousands of low-income individuals and families navigate critical legal challenges each year. In 2024, we reached new milestones: nearly 450 volunteer attorneys contributed more hours than ever before, enabling SDVLP to take on a record 7,500 cases. Together, we helped survivors of domestic violence find safety, prevented families from becoming homeless, and secured brighter futures for children in foster care.
If you are looking for work with purpose, a mission you can believe in, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, we invite you to join SDVLP. Together, we can transform lives and strengthen our community, one client, one family, and one case at a time.
What You'll Do:
The Staff Attorney works closely with SDVLP's Pro Bono team and is responsible for mentoring, training, recruiting, and guiding the work of pro bono attorneys representing SDVLP clients.
Primary responsibilities include:
Pro Bono Program Support
- Train, mentor, support, and recruit pro bono attorney volunteers.
- Develop and maintain legal training materials and program resources.
- Collaborate with SDVLP's Pro Bono Team to ensure high-quality client representation.
- Provide trauma-informed legal advice and representation to low-income individuals.
- Handle civil legal matters such as domestic violence, restraining orders, family law matters, human trafficking, tenants' rights, HIV/Aids, education law, and nonprofit/microbusiness support.
- Assess client needs and connect individuals with appropriate legal and community resources.
- Build relationships with community partners, service providers, and stakeholders.
- Conduct outreach, legal education, and community presentations to increase access to legal services.
- Represent SDVLP at community events, networking opportunities, and collaborative meetings.
- Supervise non-attorney staff, volunteers, and law student interns.
- Maintain case data, track program outcomes, and assist with grant and funder reporting.
- Support special projects and initiatives that advance SDVLP's mission and strategic goals.
Qualifications:
What You'll Bring
- Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California.
- A minimum of one year of experience practicing law is required.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage diverse audiences.
- Strong mentoring, coaching, and training abilities, with a demonstrated commitment to developing volunteer attorneys, staff, and interns.
- Ability to shift priorities as necessary, manage caseload, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated passion for public interest law and a commitment to advancing access to justice for low-income and underserved communities.
- Proficiency in Office 365.
- Proficiency with case management software.
- Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.
- A valid California driver's license is required, as driving is an essential job function, and no comparable alternative transportation options (e.g., ride-hailing, carpooling, bicycling, walking) can reasonably fulfill the role within travel time or cost.
