BILINGUAL LAWYER REFERRAL AND INFORMATION SERVICE (LRIS) STAFF ATTORNEY

The Philadelphia Bar Association is the premier trade association and advocacy organization for Philadelphia’s legal community. Founded in 1802, the Association is the oldest association of lawyers in the United States and has a long history of promoting access to justice and partnering with legal aid programs, the judiciary, the private bar, and other key stakeholders to expand the delivery of legal services for low-income people. Over the years, the Association has launched successful public interest law collaborative initiatives that have made a profound difference in the City and helped alleviate emerging critical issues facing our community. The Association is the first and only bar association in the nation to be a five-time winner of the American Bar Association’s Harrison Tweed Award, which is the ABA’s most prestigious award that recognizes the extraordinary achievements of bar associations that develop or significantly expand projects or programs to increase access to civil legal services to persons living in poverty or criminal defense services to indigents.

The Philadelphia Bar Association is seeking a dynamic part-time attorney to join our team of intake staff attorneys who handle calls from the public to our Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) call line. The LRIS program matches clients with carefully screened and well qualified lawyers. Intake staff attorneys assist callers with many types of legal matters and refer cases to lawyers who practice in over 160 areas of the law. If callers cannot afford to hire a lawyer, our staff makes referrals to legal aid organizations or other resource that may be able to help for low or no fee.

The staff attorney position reports to the Director of Policy and Legal Services.  

Summary of position:

·      Handle calls from the public to the LRIS call line.

·      Respond to referral requests, as needed, from internet and mail inquiries.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

·      Quickly identify legal issues of callers to LRIS and make referrals to lawyers according to practice field.

·      Provide brief answers to legal questions posed by callers.

·      Provide referrals or direction to legal services organizations, community organizations, government agencies and other resources that can assist callers when referral to a LRIS attorney is not appropriate.

·      Review cases and other legal notices listed in the Legal Intelligencer and monitor court dockets for LRIS referrals.

·      Respond to correspondence from incarcerated individuals.

·      Handle any other projects as requested by supervisor or Executive Director.

Position qualifications:

·      PA licensed attorney on active status

·      Working knowledge of general areas of the law, and general procedure particularly in the areas of domestic relations, landlord tenant and consumer law.

·      Ability to issue spot and quickly grasp legal issues and direct conversations with unfocused and confused callers.

·      Patience, open-mindedness, courtesy, tact, understanding, compassion and humility.

·      Able to handle a large volume of calls in a high pressure environment

·      Develop and maintain professional relationships with Bar Association staff members, volunteers, and leadership.

·      Demonstrate a commitment to understanding and addressing issues of the low-income and vulnerable populations of Philadelphia.

·      Maintain professional and legal knowledge through continuing education.

·      Ability to learn and utilize multiple computer platforms and technology for matters such as client interactions, case management, and phone systems.

·      Basic knowledge of, or ability to learn LRIS software, Microsoft Office 365 including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, OneNote, OneDrive and SharePoint; RingCentral and Zoom video conferencing

·      Position is part-time, 24 hours per week, with the ability to work both scheduled and flexible work hours based on Association needs.

·      Bilingual, particularly Spanish, required.