Post-Graduate Legal Clinic Fellow

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Performs administrative, technical, and legal work for assigned client-based services in the Legal Clinics, including but not limited to Civil Law, Entrepreneurship Law, Education & Disability Law, Immigration Law, Family Law, and Tax Law.

Supervises assigned legal interns in the production of work in the Legal Clinics; makes independent decisions regarding legal procedures and client interaction; tracks and manages caseload for assigned clinic(s); manages intern work in the absence of the supervising attorney.

Monitors the case management system for continued compliance with clinic policies and procedures to ensure quality representation. Provides quality assurance and control for assigned clinic(s).

Provides direct legal support on a daily basis to assigned clinics, including legal research; supervision of intern work; oral and written communication with clients, opposing counsel, and courts; preparation of legal memos and pleadings; and other legal work as required.

Communicates regularly and negotiates frequently with external parties such as the courts and opposing counsel.

Provides quality assurance and control by reviewing all assigned client files; monitors all existing deadlines and inputs any new deadlines in the case management system calendar; creates, prepares, and updates weekly detailed case review reports for supervising attorney(s).

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

In all aspects works under the general supervision of the Academic Director and Supervising Attorney(s) of specific clinics.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Exercises supervision over legal interns who are performing legal work in the Legal Clinics.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

EXAMPLES OF WORK

The Legal Clinics are a small to mid-sized law office, providing free legal services in an academic setting to low-income and underserved clients in the San Diego community.

Examples of work:

1. Supervises legal interns in document production and client interaction;
2. Prepares and distributes to Supervising Attorney(s) a detailed case review report on the status of all assigned cases on a weekly basis;
3. Communicates regularly with Supervising Attorney(s), the Academic Director, opposing parties, the court, legal interns, and other clinic staff;
4. Monitors the case management system for compliance with clinic policies and procedures;
5. Drafts legal pleadings, research memos, and other necessary legal documents; and
6. Makes court appearances (if licensed) on behalf of clinic clients.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• • J.D. degree
  • California Bar Examination (awaiting results) or active membership in the California State Bar (in good standing)
  • Creativity, initiative, flexibility
  • Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
  • Familiarity with computerized case management systems for legal practice
  • Demonstrated skills in customer service, including problem-solving
  • Ability to communicate effectively both in person and in writing
  • This position is open to qualified graduates of all Council-accredited law schools

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• • Experience dealing with community-based organizations and volunteer groups
  • Experience serving as a legal intern in legal clinics
  • Recent graduate of a Council-accredited law school

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• • California Bar Examination (awaiting results) or current membership in good standing in the California State Bar

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• • This is a full-time position requiring at least 35 hours per week
  • Must be able to work evenings and weekends as needed
  • Must be able to travel as needed

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Personal computer, various software applications (Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, Excel, etc.), copier, scanner, fax machine, telephone.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The employee will frequently sit; talk; hear; use hands to operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms. The employee will occasionally walk and must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. The employee must be able to see closely and be able to adjust focus for use of computer and distance visibility.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The work environment is primarily in an office setting; the facility is air-conditioned. The noise level can vary from quiet to moderate, depending upon circumstances at any given time.

NOTE: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various aspects of the position and the types of responsibilities that may be performed. The omission of specific statements does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.