Description:

Gulfcoast Legal Services is seeking a highly motivated and service-oriented individual to join our team as a Staff Attorney in the Pro Bono Initiatives department. The Pro Bono Initiatives Staff Attorney plays a critical role in expanding access to justice by recruiting, engaging, and supporting volunteer attorneys, law students, and other professionals who donate their time to serve Gulfcoast Legal Services (GLS) clients. This position manages pro bono case assignments, provides ongoing support to volunteers, and ensures compliance with organizational and grant requirements for reporting pro bono activities. This includes building and maintaining strong relationships with volunteer attorneys, bar associations, law schools, and community partners to foster collaboration and increase capacity to serve clients. The selected applicant will also assist in creating and implementing outreach strategies to attract and retain volunteers, developing training materials and resources, and coordinating pro bono legal clinics. There is an expectation of regular and timely communication with volunteers and partners, as well as attendance at pro bono, bar, and community events to ensure visibility, engagement, and ongoing collaboration. The ideal candidate will be skilled in relationship-building, project coordination, and communication, with a strong commitment to access to justice and community service. This is a professional licensed attorney position under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Pro Bono Initiatives. Candidates possessing a JD, but who are not licensed as attorneys in Florida, may be considered for the position as a Law Graduate in accordance with the agency's collective bargaining agreement.

Primary Responsibilities:

Interview clients and assist with intake, including collection of documents and verification of eligibility.
Develop an assessment of the legal merit of client's claims and of the appropriateness for representation by the program, referral, or pro se response.
Present the cases to the Deputy Director or Managing Attorney for review and decision as to the appropriate course of action.
Advise and represent eligible clients, under the supervision of a licensed attorney, consistent with the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Maintain a reasonable caseload according to the highest professional and ethical legal standards.
Coordinate special projects in substantive areas, under supervision of an attorney.
Draft letters to clients, call clients and engage in any needed communication with clients.
Maintain client files per office procedure in Legal Server.
Produce project reports.
Perform legal research and help identify laws, policies, and practices which adversely affect and diminish the rights and benefits of poor people and work with other staff as appropriate to devise creative strategies for addressing these problems.
Advise groups, utilizing legal knowledge and expertise as well as assistance of other staff, to aid community organizations in planning goals, tactics, and strategies for self-advocacy and training.
Make presentations to community groups regarding rights and responsibilities.
Coordinate and/or assist at various legal clinics and community outreach events.
Attend substantive affinity group and task force events as needed.
May perform related duties to fill in for positions above or below in the event of staffing shortage.
Maintain knowledge and skills in current case decisions and legislation in specialization area.
Review and answer correspondence and respond to inquiries related to the activities in the unit.
Organize and maintain files and records of a confidential, complex, or otherwise sensitive nature.
Perform other related duties assigned.

Basic Standards Of Performance:

Satisfactory attendance and punctuality.
Adherence to company confidentiality practices at all times.
Compliance with all Gulfcoast Legal Services policies and procedures.
Familiarity with and adherence to the company mission.
Satisfactory completion of duties and responsibilities of the position as required by management and supervision.

Special Knowledge And Skills:

Strong communication skills, both oral and written, required.
Ability to deal professionally, courteously and efficiently with people.
Ability to plan, direct and coordinate activities; work with government agencies, community groups and other organizations as necessary; communicate effectively in both written and oral forms; exhibit independent judgment in the development, implementation and evaluation of plans, procedures and policies.
Ability to work on various projects with different priorities.
Ability to work overtime when required.

Education/Experience Requirements:

A commitment to the provision of high-quality legal services to the poor.
Juris Doctorate degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school or equivalent foreign law degree (as documented by a law degree equivalency report or LLM from an ABA accredited law school).
If using a vehicle to drive to hearings, trainings or to do other business-related travel, the attorney must possess a valid Florida driver's license and auto insurance.

Physical Demands:

Ability to work on various projects with different priorities.
Ability to work overtime when required.
Ability to lift and/or carry office supplies, equipment, files, etc. up to 10 pounds.

Pay starts at $65,430.75/year depending on experience (Law Graduate positions start at $24.22/hour), plus medical, dental, and vision insurance; retirement matching; and generous paid time off and holidays. GLS is a 501(c)3 organization and a qualifying employer for PSLF programs. Attorneys may also qualify for the Loan Repayment Assistance Program through the Florida Bar Foundation of up to $10,000 annually. Candidates must complete an application and pass a background screening before employment can begin. GLS is a non-profit agency and relies on grant funding. Continued employment is contingent upon grant funding.