Staff Attorney Employment

JOB TITLE: Staff Attorney – Employment

LOCATION:Pittsburgh, PA (hybrid remote eligible)

STATUS: Full-Time (37.5 hours per week); Exempt

SUPERVISED BY: Supervising Attorney - Employment

ABOUT JUSTICE AT WORK: Justice at Work PA (JAW-PA) is a nonprofit legal aid provider based in Pennsylvania and a partner in the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. Our mission is to support workers in low-wage industries as they pursue economic and social justice. We employ a client-centered model of service: we seek to address clients’ challenges based on their unique circumstances, with a focus on their goals; we recognize that justice is a process; we believe that our clients’ experiences as we guide them through the legal process are as important as their ultimate legal outcomes. We have offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and provide legal services throughout Pennsylvania. Our team is multi-lingual, and many of our clients are low-wage, Spanish-speaking workers living in small cities, towns, and agricultural communities across the state.

ABOUT THE POSITION: The Staff Attorney will help advance workers’ rights in Pennsylvania by providing legal assistance, education, and advocacy on behalf of eligible clients of the program, with a focus on wage theft, workplace safety violations, discrimination, labor trafficking, and other types of employment law cases. This position is based in JAW-PA’s Pittsburgh office and is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide high-quality counsel and legal representation to clients, including representation in negotiation, administrative proceedings, and litigation at the federal, state, and local levels
• Participate in intake interviews and case evaluation on a regular basis, including providing limited advice and brief services where appropriate
• Support or conduct outreach to client communities across Pennsylvania through legal clinics and Know-Your-Rights trainings and other presentations, as part of JAW-PA’s strategic outreach goals
• Identify patterns of client needs and contribute to strategies for systemic advocacy or impact litigation
• Maintain the highest ethical standards as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and regularly seek out information relating to changes to the relevant areas of law
• Demonstrate dependability through good attendance, adherence to timelines and schedules, and regular communication with supervisor
• Comply with all applicable regulations, policies and procedures, confidentiality guidelines and grant requirements
• Ensure that all timekeeping, client files, data and reports are accurate, complete, and timely
• Develop and maintain good relationships with client communities and professional partners
• Embrace and support the organization’s overall mission and internal standards for client representation, including trauma‑informed, culturally competent services to diverse populations

APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Pennsylvania Bar membership or ability to obtain Pennsylvania law license immediately upon hiring
• Proficiency in the following legal practice skills: written and verbal communication; legal research and analytical problem-solving; organization and time management; relationship management
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team‑based legal services environment
• Commitment to recognizing and promoting the dignity of all people

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience representing clients in administrative proceedings, state court, federal court, or other litigation/trial experience, especially in matters involving employment law
• Experience working with farmworker, migrant, and/or immigrant communities
• Experience interviewing individuals who have experienced trauma
• Proficiency in Spanish or another client‑community language
• Ability and willingness to adjust work schedules to meet client needs, including weekend and evening work
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel independently for off-site meetings, training programs, and community education, in a rental car as needed

Classification: JAW-PA recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Justice at Work Staff Union, affiliated with the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 38010 Communication Workers of America. This position is included in the bargaining unit. Some employment terms are subject to collective bargaining.

• This job posting is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this position. These statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.**

Nondiscrimination: JAW-PA is committed to fostering equal opportunities for all, in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Please identify any accommodation needed for participation in the hiring process.

JAW-PA offers generous benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous holiday, sick, vacation, and personal paid leave, including paid holiday leave for one week at the end of each calendar year
• Up to $7,500 per year in student loan repayment assistance

Please note that while JAW-PA is committed to program sustainability, employment in this role may be terminated if funding is reduced or discontinued.

Proficiency in Spanish or another client‑community language preferred