EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Houston Volunteer Lawyers is seeking a full-time attorney to serve as the Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Disaster Resilience Program. The primary function of the fellowship is to assist immigrant communities facing legal problems due to humanitarian crises. This position will focus primarily on providing naturalization assistance to Lawful Permanent Residents and addressing other civil legal issues that serve as barriers to naturalization. The fellowship is for a term of up to two years ending no later than August 31, 2025. Continued employment is not guaranteed but may be considered.

HVL utilizes the pro bono model of legal services delivery assisting low-income clients with civil legal issues including family law, guardianship, estate planning, probate, tax disputes with the IRS, veteran specific issues, landlord/tenant disputes, homeownership, consumer issues, and bankruptcy.

Primary Responsibilities

The Equal Justice Fellow will:

  • Deliver client-centered legal services to eligible lawful permanent residents.
  • Recruit, train, and provide substantive mentoring to volunteer attorneys, including troubleshooting complex legal matters.
  • Coordinate and execute regularly occurring naturalization clinics, working with community partners and law firms to represent clients.
  • Provide legal consultations to lawful permanent residents facing various legal issues, determining the scope of HVL’s representation.
  • Develop guides, step-by-step processes, and reference materials to support volunteer attorneys in their efforts to represent clients with their legal matters.
  • Analyze, investigate, and prepare client matters for referral to volunteer attorneys.
  • Maintain timely documentation of all case-related activities, assist with grant reporting activities, share the impact of HVL’s work with the legal community.
  • Efficiently manage their caseload in accordance with HVL policies.
  • Attend and assist with LegalLines advice clinics virtually and in-person.
  • Deliver outreach and education to immigrant communities by creating, fostering, and cultivating partnership among the immigration legal community, immigration legal services providers and community social services providers.
  • Perform other tasks as assigned by the Legal Services Director and as required under the Equal Justice Fellowship program.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

  • A demonstrated commitment to public interest work and desire to provide client-centered legal assistance to a multi-cultural population.
  • Strong writing, communication, organizational, and prioritization skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations with clients, volunteer attorneys, and external stakeholders.
  • Excellent training and pro bono mentorship skills.
  • Demonstrated ability and desire to work collaboratively with multiple organizations.
  • The ability to manage a large caseload.
  • Legal expertise in issues pertaining to immigration law and other substantive legal matters frequently handled by HVL.
  • License to practice law in Texas.
  • Bilingual or multilingual a plus (not required).

Salary and Other Support:

  • Salary starts at $62,000.00 per year commensurate with experience.
  • Generous benefits include fully paid employee health benefits, dental, and vision insurance, disability and life insurance.
  • 401(k) plan, with employer match eligible after one full year of employment.
  • Employer-paid monthly parking and reimbursed travel expenses.
  • State of Texas bar dues & HBA dues
  • The Staff Attorney may be eligible to apply for a Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program through the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

Experience:

  • Legal: experience handling civil litigation preferred
  • Prior legal services, public interest, or volunteer experience serving immigrants preferred

License:

  • Texas Bar (Required)

Language:

  • Bilingual or multilingual a plus (not required)

 

To Apply: Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and three references via Indeed.  Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted.

 

Houston Volunteer Lawyers is committed to equal opportunity. HVL not discriminate against any person on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, ability, gender, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or other characteristics protected by law. Applicants committed to justice and equality from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and identities.