Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc., (SMRLS) is seeking to fill a Lead Attorney position for its Southeast Region Family Law unit. The SMRLS Southeastern Region has  offices in Albert Lea, Winona, and Rochester, and has a total staff of 5 attorneys and 13 paralegal, clerical and other staff. This position is expected to be based in the Rochester Office. The Family law unit consists of three attorneys and two paralegals.  The Lead Attorney will be responsible for supervising  family law staff, completing annual staff evaluations and conducting weekly case acceptance meetings. In addition to supervisory responsibilities, the attorney will be expected to handle an active caseload of family law cases.

            SMRLS is a non-profit law firm which receives federal, state, local, public, and private funding to provide free legal help to low income and elderly people who reside in 33 counties of southern Minnesota.  As Minnesota’s oldest legal aid program (founded in 1909), SMRLS has established a tradition of partnership with the private bar, a bi-partisan Legislature, the Minnesota Supreme Court and other Minnesota Legal Services Coalition programs in providing access to justice.

            SMRLS is a client-centered organization which is committed to its Mission of providing a full range of high quality legal services, in a respectful manner which enable clients to: enforce their legal rights; maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse; and empower persons and ensure equal opportunity, thus, helping persons to help themselves and become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual abilities and circumstances permit.  SMRLS values, welcomes and promotes diversity in all aspects of its work.  SMRLS has adopted Practice Standards and Guiding Principles to accomplish its Mission and has established case priorities which govern the types of cases which will be accepted for representation.

            Rochester is the county seat of Olmsted County and is located about 75 miles south of the Twin Cities. 

            RESPONSIBILITIES: The Family Law Lead Attorney position in the Southeast Region involves supervising attorneys and staff to provide legal assistance to eligible clients residing in the eleven counties of southeastern Minnesota.  The caseload for this position will involve primarily family law cases, but may also include housing, government benefits and other areas of law. Assignments may change over time based upon client and firm needs. The attorney must be willing to fully comply with SMRLS’ written practice standards, guiding principles, federal regulations, and other SMRLS Board policies in furtherance of SMRLS’ Mission. Community education, outreach, intake responsibilities, and active bar participation are also expected activities. Some local travel is required. 

            QUALIFICATIONS: Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota.  Prior family law experience required. Prior legal work supervisory experience preferred.  Non-academic experience working in low income communities, or other activities that demonstrate an interest in working with low income clients, are preferred and will be given great weight.  Demonstrated ability to work effectively with battered women and persons from different cultural backgrounds is essential.  Good communication skills; ability to work constructively with others in a team work setting; good judgment; ability to learn quickly and to work hard, independently, efficiently, and under pressure; and ability to effectively handle contested hearings are required.  Spanish or Somali language skills preferred. Computer competence required. 

            SALARY: The salary is $52,000+ DOE, pursuant to scale.  Good medical benefits provided. 

            STARTING DATE: Open until filled.

Submit resumes with references to:   Brian N. Lipford

                                                            SMRLS

                                                            903 West Center Street, Suite 130

                                                            Rochester, MN 55902

 SMRLS IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE.

WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. (SMRLS) is seeking to fill a Lead Attorney position for the Family Law Unit in its St. Paul office.  The Unit provides representation in a range of critical family law matters to individuals in Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Scott and Carver Counties.  The Unit’s work focuses on protecting victims of domestic violence, ensuring stability for children, and ensuring equal access to justice.  The Lead Attorney will provide direct representation to clients and oversee the work of one paralegal and seven attorneys, including one whose office is located in a community center. 

            SMRLS is a non-profit law firm which receives federal, state, local, public, and private funding to provide free legal help to low income and elderly people who reside in 33 counties of southern Minnesota.  SMRLS is Minnesota’s oldest legal aid program (founded in 1909) and has a tradition of partnership with the private bar, the Legislature, the Minnesota Supreme Court and other Minnesota Legal Services Coalition programs in providing access to justice.  SMRLS has an experienced, dynamic staff of 51 attorneys and 43 additional staff.  Hundreds of volunteer attorneys help staff provide legal assistance to over 10,000 eligible persons each year.  

            SMRLS is a client-centered organization committed to its Mission of providing a full range of high quality legal services in civil matters in a respectful manner that enables clients to: enforce their legal rights; maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse; and become empowered to help themselves and become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual abilities and circumstances permit.  SMRLS has adopted Practice Standards and Guiding Principles to accomplish its Mission and has adopted case priorities to ensure that the resources are focused on the most critical legal problems in the client communities. 

            SMRLS values, welcomes and promotes diversity in all aspects of its work.  SMRLS serves clients from a wide range of backgrounds.  SMRLS has adopted a Racial Justice Policy to guide the firm’s work towards racial equality.           

            RESPONSIBILITIES: The Lead Attorney is responsible for the leadership and general supervision of the St. Paul Family Law Unit, including the quality and quantity of legal work.  The Lead Attorney supports and supervises the work of the Unit’s attorneys and paralegal, and oversees community education, outreach and related activities.  Specific responsibilities include: representing clients in contested family law matters; developing unit and individual work plans; case reviews; job performance evaluations; encouraging staff development; ensuring appropriate staff participation in client, private bar, and community activities; making case acceptance decisions in accordance with SMRLS case acceptance policies; resolving client grievances; serving as a resource to volunteer attorneys handling family law cases; communicating policies and procedures to unit staff and the client community;  handling day-to-day personnel issues; participating in the leadership team for the St. Paul Office;   meeting grant requirements and writing some grant applications and reports; ensuring compliance with SMRLS’ policies, and state and federal law; working with other members of SMRLS’ leadership team in maintaining and building a positive, productive, open and helpful work environment; and fully implementing SMRLS values and policies with respect to equal opportunity, sexual harassment and other important matters.  Community education, outreach, bar participation and community involvement are also expected activities.   Assignments may change over time based upon client and firm needs.  Some travel is required. 

            QUALIFICATIONS: At least five years of attorney experience required.  Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota or licensed in another state and eligible for admission in Minnesota.  A broad-based knowledge of poverty law issues is required.  Experience working in the area of family law is required.  Prior legal work supervision or other relevant management experience preferred.  Experience as a supervisor and working constructively on personnel issues is preferred.  Non-academic experience working in low income communities, or other activities that demonstrate an interest in working with low income clients, will be given great weight.  Demonstrated ability to work effectively with battered women and persons from different cultural backgrounds is essential.  Good communication skills; ability to work constructively with others in a team work setting; good judgment; ability to learn quickly and to work hard, independently, and under pressure; and ability to handle contested hearings are all required.  Fluency in a second language will be beneficial but is not required.  Basic computer competence required. 

            SALARY: The salary is $52,000 DOE, pursuant to scale.  Very good fringe benefits.  Open until filled. 

            TO APPLY:  Submit resumes with references to:    Steve Wolfe, Law Work Manager

                                                                                                SMRLS

                                                                                                55 E. 5th St., Suite 400

                                                                                                St. Paul, MN 55101

 SMRLS is committed to diversity in the workplace. 

Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc., (SMRLS) is seeking to fill a Senior Leadership Attorney position in its Southeast Region with offices in Albert Lea, Rochester and Winona.  This position is expected to be based in the Rochester office.  SMRLS Southeast Region has a staff of 5 attorneys and 11 paralegal, clerical and other staff.

SMRLS is a non-profit law firm which receives federal, state, local, public, and private funding to provide free legal help to low income and elderly people who reside in 33 counties of southern Minnesota.  As Minnesota’s oldest legal aid program (founded in 1909), SMRLS has established a tradition of partnership with the private bar, a bi-partisan Legislature, the Minnesota Supreme Court and other Minnesota Legal Services Coalition programs in providing access to justice.  SMRLS has an experienced, dynamic staff of 51 attorneys, 43 additional staff and 800 volunteer attorneys to provide legal assistance to 208,000 eligible persons.  SMRLS is a client-centered organization which is committed to its Mission of providing a full range of high quality legal services, in a respectful manner which enable clients to: enforce their legal rights; maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse; and empower persons and ensure equal opportunity, thus, helping persons to help themselves and become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual abilities and circumstances permit.  SMRLS values, welcomes and promotes diversity in all aspects of its work.  SMRLS has adopted Practice Standards and Guiding Principles to accomplish its Mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Senior Leadership Attorney position in the Southeast Region will lead provision of legal services, community education and local fundraising efforts for SMRLS’ Southeast Region.  The Attorney will supervise Lead and Staff Attorneys, Paralegals and Support Staff in SMRLS’ Rochester, Winona and Albert Lea offices.  This position will also oversee community and bar relations within the Region and work with other senior leaders in SMRLS to guide overall operations of the firm.  The attorney must be willing to fully comply with and enforce SMRLS’ written practice standards, guiding principles, federal regulations, and other SMRLS Board policies in furtherance of SMRLS’ Mission, and ensure work is performed in accordance with ethical responsibilities and grant requirements.

The position will also involve individual casework, primarily in housing law cases, but may also include government benefits and other areas of law. Assignments may change over time based upon client and firm needs. Community education, outreach, intake responsibilities, and active bar participation are also expected activities. Some local travel is required.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota.  Prior management experience in a legal work setting is required.  Prior non-academic experience working in low income communities, or other activities that demonstrate an interest in working with low income clients, is preferred and will be given great weight.  Demonstrated ability to work effectively with persons from different cultural backgrounds is essential.  Good communication skills; ability to work constructively with others in a team work setting; good judgment; ability to learn quickly and to work hard, independently, efficiently, and under pressure; and ability to effectively handle contested hearings are required.  Computer competence required.

SALARY: The salary is $57,000+ DOE.  Good medical benefits provided.

STARTING DATE: Open until filled.

Submit resumes with references to:   Maria Luisa Giese

SMRLS

450 N Syndicate St, #285

St. Paul, MN 55104

marialuisa.giese@smrls.org

SMRLS IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE.  WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.