Careers

Staff Attorney

Job Location:               Nevada, IA 50201

Date Posted:               February 2, 2023

Date Closing:               Open until filled

Job Type:                     Full-Time

Compensation:           Entry-level starting salary for attorneys recently admitted to the bar is $48,000/yr. + health insurance stipend of $500/mo., cell phone reimbursement of $40/mo., generous vacation/leave package, professional fees and CLE requirements paid by employer, membership to the Iowa and Story County Bar Associations, and an employer matching contribution of up to 3% to a simple IRA. Reimbursement and contribution amounts are approved by our Board of Directors annually. Starting salary is negotiable commensurate with experience, which may include trial practicums and/or clinics, and budget availability.

Job Description:

Legal Aid Society of Story County seeks to hire a full-time staff attorney. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to low-income residents of Story County Iowa in non-fee generating civil matters. Staff attorneys in our office provide legal representation in a variety of legal fields, including, but not limited to, family law, landlord/tenant, creditor/debtor, probate, domestic protective orders, and unemployment appeals. We focus primarily on full-scope legal representation. Therefore, attorney duties will include everything from case initiation, such as conducting interviews and drafting court documents, to performing discovery and trial litigation, as well as everything in-between. Our office is small, friendly, and efficient. If you are flexible, passionate about public service, and capable of working independently and/or collaboratively as necessary to ensure a high quality of service, we are looking for you! Our office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays. Employees are generally expected to work from the office, due to the limited number of staff. However, remote work is available during inclement weather, illness, or other exigent circumstances as approved by the Executive Director.

Job Requirements:

As a Staff Attorney with our office, you should have excellent oral and written communication skills. Be capable of running your case load without great oversight, but comfortable enough to seek assistance when faced with uncertainty. You should be able to work constructively in high-conflict cases, willing to develop creative strategies to solve complex problems, and most importantly, be capable of working and engaging with marginalized groups in a manner that ensures every client is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. You should be a good team player who is comfortable sharing ideas and limited office space.

While we would prefer a candidate with previous experience in family law, litigation, and or public interest law, experience is not a prerequisite for consideration. However, our office has a company culture of cooperation, comradery, and a deep commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our community have access to justice. Therefore, we are specifically seeking to hire an attorney who has a demonstrated interest in public service and is looking to work in a nonprofit and/or in the area of family law. In order to accomplish this task, we are willing to overlook a lack of experience in favor of training an attorney who has a genuine interest in perpetuating our mission. In order to receive an offer for employment, you must: (1) be licensed to practice in Iowa and be in good standing; (2) be a prospective candidate sitting for the Bar in February 2023 (offer will be contingent on successfully passing the bar exam); (3) be a recent graduate or a law student anticipating graduation in 2023, who plans to sit for the Iowa Bar in July 2023 (offer will be contingent on successfully passing the bar exam); or (4) be licensed in another state and capable of obtaining your license to practice in Iowa (offer will be contingent on being admitted to practice in Iowa within 90 days of receiving an offer for employment).

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: peggy@legalaidstory.org