Staff Attorney- Union, MO Office

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM), a nonprofit law firm providing free, quality civil legal services to clients living with low income and limited opportunity, seeks a full-time Staff Attorney to work in its Union, Missouri office and the counties of Franklin, Lincoln, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington. This is a hybrid work position, with three days per week expected in the office. Additional remote work may be authorized, depending on requirements for court appearances.

The Staff Attorney will provide direct representation to clients in the counties served by the office in a range of civil legal areas. The majority of cases are family law representing survivors of domestic violence survivors in orders of protection, divorce, custody, paternity cases and minor guardianships. The Staff Attorney will represent tenants facing eviction and loss of housing assistance, and consumers facing collection actions, and potentially of work on systemic issues facing our client population. The Staff Attorney will provide outreach, community education and training about legal issues that affect our client population.

LSEM’s Union office offers holistic advocacy. The Staff Attorney will work in close collaboration with the managing attorney, other attorneys, social workers, and paralegals in the Union office and other LSEM offices.

Responsibilities

· All aspects of litigation, including drafting pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation and trials and appeals when needed

· Managing a diverse caseload of legal issues spanning jurisdictions in Warren, Lincoln, Franklin, Montgomery, and Washington counties

· Recognizing major systemic issues affecting the lives of low-income rural clients and litigating them when possible

· Conducting legal research and analysis

· Conducting community outreach and presentations

· Working collaboratively with other staff throughout LSEM, other Legal Services programs and community partners serving this population

· Other duties or tasks as assigned