Position Title: Staff Attorney – Disaster Law/Housing
Status: Exempt
Supervisor: Director of Advocacy
Location: Billings, Helena or Missoula, Montana
General Description of Position
This Staff Attorney will provide poverty law services to clients who have been impacted by
COVID-19 and housing law services to low income clients. Poverty law services will include,
but not be limited to consumer protection, public benefits, family law, and housing. This Staff
Attorney will work closely with MLSA’s Montana Eviction Intervention Project to handle
housing law cases and to provide training to pro bono volunteers. The Staff Attorney is
responsible for building a community education campaign, as well as providing advice and
representation to eligible clients in Montana. Travel throughout Montana is required. This is
position is funded for 18 months with the possibility of extending if funding is available.
Specific Duties
• Interview, advise, and represent eligible clients on civil matters
• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge of the special legal issues related to
COVID-19
• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge of housing law and general poverty law
issues
• Provide services ranging from brief counsel and advice, to more extended representation
on core legal issues affecting MLSA clients, both in-person and by phone
• Compose correspondence, pleadings and other documents
• Research the law and prepare memoranda
• Work with other MLSA staff to recruit, train and support pro bono attorneys
• Participate in MLSA’s statewide initiatives and impact work, and implement grant and
contract requirements through casework
• Provide civil legal education to community partners
• Support the development of legal resources in the area of housing law
• Collaborate with community partners who also work with low income populations and in
housing
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Advocacy, Executive Director or MLSA’s
Housing Attorney
• Ability to travel within Montana and out of state, occasionally overnight.
MLSA is an equal opportunity employer and we consider the diversity of our staff to be vital to
our organization's success. We strongly encourage and welcome people of all cultures, races,
educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, ages,
genders, and physical abilities to apply.
Requirements
• Law Degree and current license to practice law in Montana or willingness to become
licensed to practice in Montana
• Prior legal services experience, preferred
• Experience in housing law, preferred
• A willingness to assume a varied case load.
• An understanding of the civil legal needs of low-income people, including the unique
needs of populations that experience particular barriers to access to justice systems.
• Knowledge of substantive legal areas affecting low-income people.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people with varying perspectives,
experience and expertise.
• Ability and willingness to learn and integrate new technologies and methodologies to
efficiently perform responsibilities.
• A willingness to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients, the public,
judges, court personnel and the bar.
• Ability and willingness to work cooperatively and collegially within a decentralized
statewide law firm.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently in a deadline-oriented environment.
• A “can do” attitude and a willingness to pitch in where needed.
• Strong commitment to insuring equal access to justice.
• Proficient at the use of technology, including, but not limited to, word processing,
spreadsheets, internet-based programs and computer-based legal research.
Salary: $55,000 per year and up, DOE. MLSA offers an attractive benefits package, including
health, dental, vision, and life insurance, retirement and educational loan repayment assistance.
To Apply: Send a letter of interest, resume, and the names of three references by email to
[email protected].
Deadline: Screening of applicants will begin immediately. The priority deadline for
applications is May 28, 2021. The position will remain open until filled.