Job Title: My Community Cares Attorney
Job Purpose:
The My Community Cares Attorney of the Family Justice Center of Ouachita Parish is responsible for the research, analysis, documentation and representation of clients seeking family law counsel as a result of domestic violence, Public Benefits, Housing, Consumer Health and Protection.
Experience & Knowledge:
- Minimum Juris Doctorate with a minimum of 3 years work experience.
- Member of the Louisiana Bar
- Understanding of the effects and cycle of domestic violence
Skills & Abilities:
- Must be sensitive to the needs of people and able to carry a variety of leadership roles.
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be receptive to new ideas.
- Self-starter, confident litigator
- Is professional and responsible about all aspects of work and makes good use of time.
- Possesses excellent verbal and written communications’ skills, including the ability to create, compose and edit legal documents. Record with clarity and promptness.
- Excellent investigation and analytical skills.
- Possesses ability to assess situations both within and outside the client system and determine priorities.
- Has ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with clients from various cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds.
- Has good working relationship with other staff; fosters teamwork, is very cooperative and handles delicate situations tactfully.
- Has ability to maintain effective working relationships with other center professionals and to be cooperative in handling referrals.
- Has ability to identify and use community resources.
- Maintains poise and self-control even under extreme stress and unexpected crises.
- Is appropriately assertive even in difficult situations.
- Maintains personal appearance consistent with center standards.
- Effectively plans and arranges work responsibilities.
- Assumes responsibility for own learning.
- Has ability to work within the purpose, structure and constraints of the center and to make suggestions for change in a responsible manner.
- Is committed to continued professional growth.
Core Values of Staff
Compassion: We act with compassion toward others and work for the good of others & respecting them as the authors of there own lives.
Customer Service: We work to delight our customers, both internal and external.
Integrity: We act with the integrity that promotes the highest confidence, trust and accountability.
Leadership: We demonstrate leadership in our organization and the community.
Teamwork: We work as a team, achieving more collectively than individually
Job Related Training Courses Programs
- Orientation
- On-going in-service with local, state, regional and & national workshops, conferences.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
1. Delivers Direct Services to clients (80% of time) by
- Performing high-level research and analysis in numerous areas of law and policy;
- Advising clients in the area of Family Law and specifically domestic violence issues
- Preparing proposals, negotiating, mediating and litigating child support, spousal support, contested and uncontested child custody, divorce, visitation, welfare issues, protective orders, housing, property settlements, paternity, vacating divorce judgments contracts, adoptions, tutorship/guardianship, name change, wills and successions bankruptcy cases.
- Provide representation regarding public benefits to include administrative law, medicare benefits, unemployment compensation, works compensation, veterans benefits, social security, SSI, AFDC, immigration, housing, public utilities, loan modification, debt relief, foreclosure prevention and mediation, foreclosure relief, principal reduction, financing, wrongful foreclosure, debt collection, repossession, garnishment, contract, warranties, liens, installment purchase, unfair sales practice, income maintenance, tort law defense, mental health, disability rights, job discrimination, wage claims, civil rights.
- Supports FJC by ensuring a competent, productive, and satisfied professional legal staff by
- Modeling teamwork and case development and closure, directly and through delegations as well as coordinating staff placed in the center by other agencies or the FJC volunteer program
- Leading/guiding staff, interns, and/or volunteers performing related work;
- Provides educational and experiential growth opportunities,
- Assures quality services and program efficiency and effectiveness by
- Evaluating legal services inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and indicators;
- Enforcing rules, regulations, and legal requirements;
- Supervising and coordinating projects within area of expertise.
- Ensuring that all activities carried out in the name of the center are in accordance with the center mission, policies and procedures.
- Planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring current center programs and identifying new service activities / area;
- Reviewing, monitoring and recommending changes to current and projected legal services and center policies, procedures, practices, standards and operations
- Plans for and protects the physical assets and fiscal integrity of the Family Law legal services at the center by
- Maintaining secure files and confidentially
- Ensures safety procedures will be followed at all times
- Assuring that assets are adequately maintained and not at unnecessary risk
- Assisting with fund development activities, including the submission of grants
5. Maintains professional competency by
- Participating in continued education and personal growth experiences;
- Reviewing professional publications,
- Establishing personal networks; and participating in professional societies
6. Maintains a harmonious working relationship with the volunteers, executives and staff of other related service agencies, public officials, etc. by
- Amenable and cooperative contacts on the local, state, regional levels
- Acting as a role model for volunteers, staff and for the wider community at large
7. Promotes a positive image of the Center by
- Ensuring an understanding of program services available,
- Conducting oneself according to a professional code of ethics.
- Influence community attitudes and practices by
- identifying current attitudes and practices, and
- advocating for change
- taking a leadership role in the community
- Performs other duties as related to the position and as assigned