Legal Services Veteran - Homeless Staff Attorney

Job Overview

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Veterans Homeless Staff Attorney to join our Legal Services team, focusing on advocating for vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness. This vital role offers an opportunity to leverage extensive legal expertise to address complex issues related to housing, family, employment, and civil rights.

As a Homeless Staff Attorney, you will provide comprehensive legal counsel, represent clients in court, and collaborate with community partners to promote justice and stability for those in need. Your energetic approach and commitment to social justice will drive impactful change in the lives of individuals facing housing insecurity.

Duties

• Provides representation to veterans in civil matters that are not fee generating.
• Maintains a caseload.
• Performs legal research and prepares memoranda, pleadings, discovery, motions, appeals, and interrogatories and keeps Managing Attorney advised of case statuses.
• Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of cases and prepares cases for presentation in court.
• Negotiates case resolution with opposing parties, opposing attorneys and the guardian ad litems.
• Appears in State and Federal courts for motions, trials, arguments, hearings, rules to show cause, pre-trial conferences, status conferences, roster/docket sounding, and appeals. Fills in for other attorneys as needed.
• Attends Unit meetings, advocates meetings, task forces, and program-wide meetings.
• Meet with partner agencies and local community/agency advocates. Attends required meetings and seminars.
• Consults with other attorneys and attend staff meetings and training seminars as required.
• Maintains knowledge and skills in current case decisions and legislation.
• Reviews and answers correspondence and responds to phone calls related to the activities in the local office.
• Respond to the legal needs of clients.
• Attends training sessions on current legal updates and reads legal materials to update professional knowledge.
• May supervise paralegals assigned to the local office.
• Responds to request for legal opinions and legal actions from the local community.
• Organizes and maintains files and records of a confidential, complex, or otherwise sensitive nature.
• Keeps informed of new rules, regulations, and legislation pertinent to the organization.
• Reviews the work of subordinates for completeness and accuracy prior to necessary action or approval.
• Coordinates, conducts and/or participates in community outreach events.
• Completes special assignments relating to legal actions as assigned.
• Maintains an accurate follow-up system to review cases when appropriate
• Performs all other duties as may be requested by the Managing Attorney, General Counsel, Litigation Director, or Executive Director.

Experience

• Requires a J. D. from an accredited law school and admission to the South Carolina Bar.
• Attorneys must possess and maintain valid membership to the South Carolina Bar Association.

Attorneys must complete all rules and requirements as set by the South Carolina Bar and the South Carolina Supreme Court.

SCLS will pay the cost of continuing legal education (CLE) courses, the South Carolina Bar Dues, one County Bar Dues, and the CLE certification fees. However, it is the responsibility of the attorney to keep abreast of CLE hours and to ensure that membership dues are forwarded to the accounting department in a timely fashion and prior to the deadlines imposed by the Supreme Court.

SCLS will not be responsible for late fees resulting from negligence of any attorney in reporting CLE hours or paying membership fees.

This description lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Attorneys may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.

Join us if you are passionate about using your extensive legal expertise to serve marginalized communities. This role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference through dedicated advocacy while working within a dynamic team committed to social justice. All positions are paid roles that support your professional growth as you champion the rights of those experiencing homelessness.

Pay: $79,008.00 - $108,180.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Ability to Commute:

• North Charleston, SC 29405 (Required)

Work Location: In person