Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP)
Austin, TX Veterans Legal Assistance Program (VLAP)
Job Type
Full-time
Description

  

As a member of Veterans Legal Assistance Project (VLAP) team, the Staff Attorney, MLP position will address the legal needs of veterans in most areas of civil law by providing direct legal services, including legal advice and referrals and representing veterans and eligible family members in court and administrative hearings. The Staff Attorney, MLP will have scheduled on-site sessions at a Veteran Affairs healthcare facility in Cedar Park, aligning with the National Center for MLP’s approach to enhance access to justice and address health-related legal issues like access to care, financial and food insecurity, and housing stability. 

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.

Requirements

  

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, and Microsoft 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.


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 times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.