Document review attorney job description

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) provides life-changing civil legal assistance to eligible residents in every part of the State. Since 1911, MLA has provided high-quality legal services to low-income, and marginalized individuals and communities–helping them remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges, achieve stability and independence, and an overall better life.

MLA is dedicated to preserving the basic human needs and basic human rights of clients, particularly as they navigate the justice system. MLA staff, pro bono attorneys, community partners, and general supporters all play important roles in ensuring that the legal playing field is leveled so that those most in need achieve equal access to justice. It is because of this diverse support that MLA is able to be a voice to tens of thousands of economically disadvantaged and vulnerable Marylanders every year.

MLA announces an immediate opening for full-time Guardianship Supervising Attorney and Internal Monitor of the MLA contract and guardianship attorney positions in the Annapolis, Baltimore, Statewide Advocacy Support and Prince George’s County offices.

This position will assist and counsel the MLA contract program officer and the MLA Statewide Advocate on Administrative Law in the oversight and coordination of MLA’s contract with the State of Maryland to provide representation of Indigent Adults involved in Adult Protective Services and Adult Public Guardianship Review Board (APS), in the various Circuit Courts, review hearings, appeals and other related matters. The supervisor and monitor attorney shall provide counsel to the MLA Statewide Advocate on Administrative Law concerning administration of the contract including but not limited to recruitment of staff attorneys, coordinating training, and submission of mandated reports to the state and assuming overall supervisory duties when the Statewide Advocate is unavailable. Participation in APS workgroup court meetings, Legal Aid Task Forces, and other internal Maryland Legal Aid committees is required. Tasks assigned to supervisory attorney and internal monitor may include any or all of, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Represent clients as assigned and scheduled by the court in any of the counties associated with the contract;
• Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews/visits with clients.
• Conduct factual investigation and analysis and legal research.
• Advise clients of results of investigation and research and counsel clients regarding their options.
• Draft pleadings to include complaints, answers, and counter-complaints, etc.
• Draft memoranda of law, briefs, etc.
• Develop case theory and strategy for the representation of clients.
• Prepare cases and represent clients during negotiations and in hearings, trials, and appeals.
• In conjunction with the project administrator and any chief attorneys, work with various community groups and accept speaking engagements.
• Continue professional development and education through attendance at trainings and other programs sponsored by the Maryland Legal Aid.
• Maintain case records for clients in the LegalServer case management system.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland, or admitted in another jurisdiction and eligible for admission in the State of Maryland. Out-of-State attorneys must be able and available to take next scheduled bar exam following date of employment.
• Minimum of 10 years legal experience and at least 5 years supervisory experience.
• Working knowledge of WestLaw Edge research.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Involvement in the community and leadership experience.

About MLA:

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) is a nonprofit legal services law firm that provides free, civil legal services to low-income people in Baltimore City and Maryland's 23 counties from 12 offices. The firm handles cases involving a wide range of issues, including family, housing, government benefits, healthcare, employment, and consumer law. MLA also represents children in CINA (Child in Need of Assistance) proceedings in 22 jurisdictions. Other vulnerable populations, such as homeowners facing foreclosure, migrant and seasonal farm workers, people with developmental and mental health disabilities, nursing home and assisted living residents, and veterans seeking benefits and assistance with related legal issues also receive representation through special projects. MLA's Community Lawyering Initiative, which includes its Lawyer in the Library program, assists with expunging criminal records to remove barriers to obtaining housing, employment, and child custody through clinics held in libraries, community centers, non-profit organizations, places of worship, schools, healthcare facilities, and other communal places.

Schedule, Travel, Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $78, 987.00 - $103, 105.00. In addition, MLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, 2 weeks paid time off, paid sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, and more! Future flexibility regarding a hybrid work arrangement is a possibility after the on-boarding period. Eligibility to apply for the Maryland Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP).

Application Process

Maryland Legal Aid is committed to equity, justice and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, MLA seeks to hire employees from diverse backgrounds and perspectives that are reflective of the communities we serve, including people with disabilities, people of color, women and members of traditionally underrepresented groups.

This job is at pay grade C21, effective 10/01/2022

Primary responsibilities will include staffing Early Case Review.

Special Project Worker end date 9/30/2023, may be continued

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the sixth in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the most complex and that may result in moderately severe consequences without supervision and handles cases and matters that may result in the most severe consequences with supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities

* Performs legal research. Searches resources and studies legal records and documents to obtain information applicable to case or issue under consideration.
* Drafts briefs, motions, orders, subpoenas, contracts and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and reports.
* Takes depositions and responds to discovery requests. Oversees the creation and issuance of legal documents, including subpoenas, motions, orders, writs, warrants, contracts, official policies and other related documents. Represents the State at docket calls.
* Prepares cases for trial. Collects, organizes and prepares evidence, information and other legal materials.
* Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Attorney IV -J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND four (4) years licensed attorney work experience. $83,424.43 Annually.

Attorney V - J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND six (6) years licensed attorney work experience. $95,524.21 Annually.

Attorney VI - J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND eight (8) years licensed attorney work experience. $102,222.02 Annually.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

* Jurisprudence, criminal and civil law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law.
* Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
* Methods and practices of pleading cases and of effective techniques for presentation of cases in court or to effectively present facts and precedents verbally and in writing in law related matters.
* Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to court system.
* Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
* Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
* May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

* Problem-solving and decision-making.
* Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents in area of specialty.
* Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.

Ability to:

* Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
* Present facts, precedents and arguments verbally and in writing and apply negotiation skills.
* Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
* Work independently.
* Manage time well and perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
* Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
* Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: Shifts including but not limited to weekend and night shifts, 11:00 pm - 7:00 am

Location: 314 W 11th Street, Granger Building

Department: County Attorney

Criminal Background Check, Education, and Employment History Check Required.