Staff Attorney, Victim Services

Background:

Founded in 1978, SeniorLAW Center is a dynamic nonprofit public interest legal services organization whose mission is to seek justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community, and advocating on local, state, and national levels. We are the only non-profit agency in Pennsylvania wholly dedicated to providing legal assistance to older persons and protecting their legal rights, and one of few in the nation. SeniorLAW Center prioritizes services to older people who are low-income, cultural, and racial minorities, the disabled, victims of crime and family violence, and those facing other vulnerabilities and challenges. We fight senior poverty, fraud, and homelessness, provide protection from elder abuse and financial exploitation, enable grandparents to raise grandchildren, and improve access to justice.

Position Summary:

The Staff Attorney, Victim Services provides direct legal services to and engages in advocacy on behalf of SeniorLAW Center clients age 60 or older. The position will focus services to older victims in Philadelphia but may also provide advice and/or representation to older victims in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties.

Work Setting: Hybrid, currently minimum 2 days per week in-office requirement. Subject to increase.

Hours of Work: 9AM - 5PM

Role-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client related

• Handle all aspects of client representation, including, but not limited to:
  • screening and interviewing walk-in and/or emergency clients
  • conducting client interviews by telephone or in person to give legal opinion or recommend and/or accept a case for extended representation
  • filing necessary court documents timely
  • analyzing facts to prepare appropriate case strategies
  • preparing for all court appearances
  • assessing holistic legal needs of clients and make referrals internally and externally
  • providing technical assistance to staff and volunteer attorneys

• Handle case-related tasks including but not limited to:
  • retrieving, transcribing, and performing prescreen data entry in the case management system as needed
  • preparing and mailing retainers and letters,
  • drafting court documents
  • communicating with clients or third parties via telephone, email, text message or other by other means
  • preparing case files for hearing/trial
  • maintaining case files and case management database
  • conducting home visits to frail or homebound clients
  • handling other case or client related tasks as necessary

• Utilize Language line or other interpretation services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) older adults.
• Provide information and referrals to older tenants, linking them to other resources and supportive services, including emergency financial assistance, support groups, health services and other resources.

Community Outreach and Education

• Represent SeniorLAW Center at professional committees/coalitions related to older adult victimization to advocate for better services and access to justice for older victims of crime. 

• Develop and present legal education workshops to older adults to prevent victimization, identify victims and promote self-identification or refer them to needed services. 

• Aid in the development of educational materials and resources for older victims of crime and “best practices” resources for professionals. 

• Aid in planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and tabling events. 

• Assist with community clinics focused on older victims of crime. 

• Coordinate with Project Director to update website, E-News, and other communication tools with project related information. 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in scheduled project related meetings.
• Participate in staff and Legal team meetings.
• Provide support to other colleagues agency wide as needed.
• Assist with on-boarding staff as needed.
• Become knowledgeable of and follow all SeniorLAW Center’s personnel and legal policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate and model commitment to SeniorLAW Center’s mission and values.
• Participate in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy and events to support the organization.
• Assist with quality control and case management data collection and reporting as necessary.
• Other responsibilities to further mission of the project and organization.

Project-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related

• Providing civil legal assistance to victims of crime, including, but not limited to:
• filing and pursing protection from abuse petitions and related litigation.
• filing quiet title actions and other related litigation to address fraud.
• prepare revocation and powers of attorney.
• filing of and representing victims of financial exploitation and abuse in other civil legal matters arising directly out of the victimization to ensure the economic security of the client including ejectment actions, landlord-tenant matters, mortgage foreclosures, spousal support actions, kinship/custody matters, debt collection and consumer matters.

• Providing information, support and advocacy with related criminal proceedings that may impact civil litigation, collaborating with the police and District Attorneys as necessary.
• Work with Legal advocate to provide appropriate safety planning, including other legal tools necessary to ensure the safety of the victim.

Systemic Advocacy 

• Identify systemic problems affecting older victims of crime and work with our local, statewide and national partners to develop creative solutions. 

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor
• Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing 
• At least two (2) years of civil litigation experience  

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience with victims of crime and/or violence

• Second language proficiency preferred 

• Courtroom experience 

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors:

Must be a motivated self-starter  

• Highly professional, organized, energetic, flexible, and culturally sensitive
• Must possess high quality advocacy and negotiating skills 

• Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Interest and ability to work with older people and persons of different backgrounds

Work Conditions:

• This job operates in a professional office environment.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Salary Range/Benefit Information: 

This is a full-time exempt hybrid position based in Philadelphia. Excellent benefits, including fully paid health and dental for employee, long- and short-term disability, 401k, flexible spending plan, and generous holidays and leave time, with a value of over $20,000. Salary range, commensurate with years of experience and SeniorLAW Center’s salary structure: starting salary $ 66,000.  Note SeniorLAW Center has a mandatory COVID vaccination policy for all staff and volunteers. All applications should include a cover letter, resume and at least three (3) professional references.   

SeniorLAW Center is an equal opportunity employer, which values and seeks diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. Persons from diverse backgrounds and orientations are encouraged to apply. 

Salary : $20,000 - $66,000