Communications Coordinator
Advocate for low-income people across Montana, offering support, information, and referrals to applicants for services, clients, and the general public.
Join Montana Legal Services Association and make justice possible. You’ll enjoy Montana’s outdoor lifestyle while representing those without a voice in our civil legal system.
MLSA is a progressive Montana non-profit law firm. We offer our staff challenging and fulfilling work, where you can go home each day knowing you made a tangible difference. MLSA provides a supportive and collegial work environment, a healthy work-life balance, and a generous benefits package.
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.
Who We Are: MLSA is committed to the idea that equal justice under the law is a right, not a privilege. We are zealous advocates for Montanans who struggle to make ends meet and deserve their day in court.
- Our attorneys have pursued impact litigation all the way to Montana’s Supreme Court, helping to level the playing field for all Montanans.
- Our staff works with clients statewide and within Montana’s Tribal Courts.
- We are nationally recognized for our forward-thinking approach to civil legal aid and for our use of technology to advance the cause of justice for all in Montana.
Specific Duties:
- Develop, implement, maintain and evaluate communications, outreach strategies, and budgets for MLSA and specific projects with the support of the Legal Education Project Coordinator.
- Build community relationships and cement partnerships by conducting regular community education and outreach to build partnerships and systems for referral in order to serve the civil legal needs of Montanans living in poverty.
- Train and advise MLSA staff on collaboration efforts between partners, community organizations, and MLSA to streamline external and internal communication efforts.
- Develop and coordinate training, referrals, strategic communications, and data collection for MLSA and MLSA projects. This can include fact sheets, brochures, articles, videos, and other communications tools for clients, community partners, and the Montana legal community.
- Work with MLSA’s Legal Education Project Coordinator to oversee MLSA’s social media accounts related to client community education. Develop, implement, maintain and evaluate communications strategies to expand MLSA’s reach.
- Manage and maintain MLSA’s printed client education materials.
- Track, review, and address the changing civil legal needs for low-income Montanans and other emerging issues that impact MLSA clients.
- Facilitate meetings with MLSA advocacy and practice groups to understand MLSA services and communicate information received from community organizations and partners back to MLSA staff.
- Assist in the grant reporting process by providing data, progress reports, and designing reporting tools for various audiences including grantors, legislators, judges, and community partners to describe MLSA direct service outcomes and outreach presence.
- Develop press releases and press kit materials and work with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and MLSA staff to build and maintain positive media relations.
- Help support MLSA staff to participate in outreach events throughout the state, including providing staff with the education and tools needed to deliver a consistent message and report those outreach activities in Legal Server.
- Represent MLSA by providing training and attending task forces, committees, meetings, etc.
- Participate in Community Ed Access to Justice Commission and MJF Collaborative Campaign.
Requirements:
- Ability to effectively communicate, to motivate others, and to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people with varying perspectives, experience and expertise, and demonstrated cultural competence with client communities.
- Initiative, creativity and problem-solving abilities; must be not averse to risk, and must be able to embrace change and uncertainty.
- Ability and willingness to learn and integrate new technologies and methodologies to efficiently perform responsibilities.
- Skilled at project management, and effective at working across distances.
The Position: We’re looking for a Communications Coordinator to be based in MLSA’s Helena office. The pay range is $50,000 - $61,000 depending on experience.
- MLSA has a full-time, 35 hour work week.
- MLSA offers company-paid health, dental, vision and life insurance; an educational loan repayment assistance program; a 403(b) retirement plan; and eligibility for a health reimbursement or health savings account with MLSA contributing $1,600 each year.
- We also offer a generous paid leave package, including annual leave, sick leave, and a wellness leave program.
- And if you move from another town in Montana to join us, we offer up to $500 for relocation reimbursement (or $1,000 if you move from out of state).
Why Should You Apply?
- Live your values and put your passion or degree to work by advocating for people who deserve a voice in our legal system.
- Great benefits, generous leave, and competitive pay.
- Access to free CLE seminars and opportunities to attend national conferences and trainings.
- The chance to hone your skills in a friendly and supportive work environment.
How to Apply: Submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 references to our posting on BambooHR. Screening of applicants is ongoing and the position will remain open until filled. The priority deadline for applications is July 31, 2026.
All applicants must apply though our BambooHR career site here - https://montanalegalservices.bamboohr.com/careers/124?source=aWQ9NTM%3D
General Link if needed: https://montanalegalservices.bamboohr.com/careers
Visit our website, mtlsa.org to learn more about MLSA, our staff, and the work we do.
The Location:
Helena: Montana’s capital city, centrally located for a wide variety of outdoor adventures. Helena offers over 80 miles of hiking trails accessible from downtown, and its nationally recognized mountain biking trail system offers a full range of expert to family-friendly rides. Cross-country ski trails abound and the local downhill ski area is just 23 miles from Helena and boasts affordable lift tickets, short lift lines, and night skiing on Fridays. Home of the Archie Bray Foundation, Helena Symphony, and many other theaters and museums gives Helena the title, #1 small arts community in the country. Our Helena office is a short walk to Downtown Helena and the Great Northern Town Center featuring great local coffee shops, eateries, craft breweries, a wine bar, a distillery, and handmade ice cream.