JOB DESCRIPTION
EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS AMERICORPS
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY LEGAL CORPS FELLOW
Agency Description: The mission of the Legal Aid Society is to pursue justice for people in poverty. We provide free legal services to the most disadvantaged in our community. We fight on clients’ behalf when their health, safety, and stability are unjustly threatened. Last year, Legal Aid helped nearly 4,000 people who had nowhere else to turn.
Position Summary: Equal Justice Works and AmeriCorps have partnered to provide the Employment Opportunity Legal Corps (EOLC) Fellowship opportunity to address legal barriers to employment of economically disadvantaged individuals across the nation. The EOLC Fellow will provide civil legal assistance to low-income individuals with a legal barrier to employment such as an expungement-eligible criminal record, denial or revocation of an occupational license, and loss of a driver’s license.
One Fellowship is available. Based on Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps guidelines, the term of service will begin in September 2016 and continue for one year. Position requires completion of NSOPR, state, and FBI fingerprint criminal background checks as well as compliance with all CNCS Federal Regulations throughout the fellowship program.
The Legal Aid Society’s Employment Opportunity Legal Corps Fellow will provide uniform, high quality advocacy for low-income individuals facing legal barriers to employment in Legal Aid Society’s service area. This is a fellowship position funded by AmeriCorps and Equal Justice Works.
Responsibilities and Duties:
The AmeriCorps EOLC Fellow will:
1. Provide free, civil legal guidance and representation to low-income individuals seeking to remove a legal barrier to employment. Legal issues may include expungement of a criminal record, reinstatement of a driver’s license, and approval of an occupational license.
2. Conduct outreach to and collaborate with organizations serving unemployed and underemployed individuals, including employment training centers and other employment service organizations, to create and sustain a network of partners that can provide supplemental employment services to clients.
3. Provide legal representation through the policies and practices consistent with professional standards for the delivery of civil legal services to the poor and consistent with any requirement of Legal Services Corporation and all other funding sources or program policies.
4. Maintain accurate and complete files or records. Prepare reports and timely complete forms and records necessary for client services or administrative tasks related to job.
5. Interact with clients and staff and service providers professionally and appropriately. Establish and maintain rapport with clients to obtain accurate information and to establish trust. Work with other staff on client services or other program tasks in a collegial and cooperative nature. Develop and nurture good relations with service providers who make referrals or otherwise coordinate with the program.
6. Work with supervisor to develop plan for advocacy work within program priorities and funding to define balance between impact work and service work, as well as community education and other outreach.
7. Work with supervisor to identify individual training needs and develop strategies with case supervisor to address those needs.
8. Attend and actively participate in planning meetings, trainings and task forces, as well as office meetings.
9. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle and must hold a valid driver’s license and be able to be insured.
10. Occasional night and weekend work hours; some local and out of town travel.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Must have demonstrable commitment to understanding and addressing issues of low-income constituents.
2. Must have a J.D. and sat the July 2016 Kentucky Bar Exam with results expected on September 20th; or must have a J.D. and be newly admitted to practice in Kentucky and in good standing; or must be eligible for admission to the Kentucky Bar under Kentucky Supreme Court Rule 2.112 if newly admitted to practice in another state
3. Must have graduated from Equal Justice Works member law school.
4. Must have skills to use office technologies, including case management software.
5. Must be able to balance administrative and client advocacy responsibilities.
6. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal, organizational and negotiation skills and the ability to work as a team member.
7. Knowledge of low-income issues, experience with low-income individuals or families, knowledge of employment law encouraged.
8. Diverse economic, social, and cultural experiences and a second language are preferred.
COMPENSATION:
1. AmeriCorps living allowance of $25,060.
2. Supplemental benefits for documented housing and living expenses up to $19,314.
OTHER BENEFITS:
1. $5,775 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service.
2. AmeriCorps provided childcare assistance, if income eligible.
3. Legal Aid Society professional development and training assistance.
4. Student loan forbearance and interest accrual payment for eligible loans upon successful completion of service.
5. Participation in Equal Justice Works training opportunities and conferences, as applicable.
6. Legal Aid Society fringe benefits, including health insurance, dental insurance, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and a flexible benefit plan.
Send resume, cover letter, and three references to Meagen Peden Agnew, Director of Administration, Legal Aid Society, 416 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202, or .
Legal Aid Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status.