The Staff Attorney, Floating Generalist plays a crucial role in the mission of Texas Legal Services Center(TLSC), providing comprehensive legal services to low-income Texans and families. This position offers exposure to various practice areas, allowing the attorney to develop a well-rounded skill set. The diverse caseload the Staff Attorney, Floating Generalist will handle includes matters related to public benefits, housing, consumer rights, crime victims’ rights, family law, and veterans’ benefits.

This attorney in this position is expected to:

Maintain the highest ethical and professional standards as a member of the State Bar; adhere to the American Bar Association Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid; embrace and support TLSC’s overall mission; and comply with all grant requirements, regulations, standards, policies, and confidentiality requirements.

This is a grant-funded position.

Essential Functions:

• Demonstrate knowledge and expertise of the law and legal system.
• Embrace and support TLSC’s overall mission, standards, policies, and confidentiality requirements.
• Provide high quality legal advice, assistance, and referrals to eligible clients and client organizations in a compassionate, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed manner.
• Perform research and analysis, conduct factual investigations, communicate with third parties, make agency referrals, and draft and file legal documents.
• Conduct community education to raise awareness about legal rights and resources.
• Ensure compliance with all regulations, grant requirements, and internal operating and personnel policies.
• Ensure that all client, project, and computer files are maintained in an orderly manner.
• Maintain the highest ethical and professional standards as a member of the State Bar and the ABA Standards for Civil Legal Services Providers and stay current with changes to the law.
• Maintain the highest level of professionalism when working with other TLSC staff, other Legal Aid programs, governmental and funding entities, and the public.
• Ensure that all appointments and deadlines are calendared and timely executed with sufficient time dedicated to management approval of legal documents.
• Assist in the development of grants and provide financial and program reporting as requested.
• Cultivate working relationships, both internally and with other organizations and agencies, to advance programmatic and organizational goals.
• Provide all information needed/requested for TLSC-reporting in a prompt manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• High-level organizational skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong time management and attention to detail.
• Adaptability and willingness to learn across various practice areas.
• Proficiency with (or the ability to learn) LegalServer (TLSC’s case management system), Adobe, andMicrosoft Office products.
• Understanding of grant requirements and associated reporting needs.
• Ability to travel to out-of-town locations, often including overnight stays.
• Ability to work with clients in a patient, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental manner.
• Comfort with working in both a hotline and litigation environment.
• Written and verbal fluency in the Spanish and/or Vietnamese language highly preferred.

Minimum Education and Experience: J.D. Degree.

Licensure and/or Certification: Law License by the Supreme Court of Texas currently or within 6 months of hire. 

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.
• Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force as needed, at timesto lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.