Staff Attorney

Philadelphia VIP is a nonprofit that recruits and supports volunteer attorneys to represent low-income Philadelphians who face critical legal issues, but cannot afford a lawyer.

Since 1981, VIP has been the hub of pro bono in Philadelphia, annually supporting over 1,500 volunteers assisting hundreds of low-income clients in four priority areas: preventing homelessness, preserving income, supporting family stability, and promoting community economic development. Our staff of seventeen consists of attorneys, case managers, and other professionals and is highly collaborative, creative, and passionate about our capacity-building model of service. VIP values a diverse work environment and encourages people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, and people with disabilities to apply.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to a Supervising Attorney, this Staff Attorney will support VIP’s low-income clients facing critical legal needs, and recruit, train and support volunteer attorneys. While this position will support an array of civil case types, the primary focus will be on landlord-tenant matters.

The position is full-time (38-40 hours/week) and exempt, with a salary range of $63,700 to $69,200 based on years of relevant experience, and an outstanding team atmosphere. VIP’s generous benefits include medical and dental insurance (with employee medical premium fully paid by VIP); a 403(b) plan with employer contributions; short-and long-term disability and life insurance; flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care; industry-leading paid time off, including substantial vacation and sick time, 12+ paid holidays, and paid parental leave; an individual budget for professional development; and alternative work arrangements, including generous telework hours and scheduling flexibility. This position is part of a bargaining unit of employees represented by UAW.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

A strong staff attorney candidate will demonstrate: a sound commitment to VIP’s service model—expanding access to justice through supporting pro bono volunteers; a passion for using data-informed solutions to enhance service delivery to clients; excellent communication skills; and interest in working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment. Further qualifications include:

• Graduate of an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania
• At least one year of legal practice, with courtroom experience highly preferred
• Strong interest in issues related to landlord-tenant law; prior experience is helpful but not required
• Demonstrated capacity to build relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Close attention to detail, organized, and able to manage multiple, simultaneous projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Aptitude with technology, including a comprehensive case management system
• Spanish-speakers highly preferred

KEY FUNCTIONS

Guide and support volunteer attorneys and clients throughout the life of their cases:

• With VIP’s support, develop a comprehensive knowledge base of legal issues that impact tenants facing eviction, including procedural and substantive law.
• On a limited and as-needed basis, directly represent tenants facing eviction.
• Develop knowledge of the legal issues involved in a variety of case types, which may include homeownership, estate planning, guardianship, and litigation cases, among others.
• Provide encouraging, timely support to volunteer attorneys on substantive legal issues, procedures, case support services, and client interactions, across a variety of case types.
• Prepare cases for volunteers by gathering background information and documents from clients, assessing the legal merit of cases, and summarizing the legal issues requiring assistance.
• Manage and attend practice group meetings and other external volunteer support gatherings at partner law firms and corporations.
• Eventually supervise interns and temporary staff and their respective caseloads.

Recruit and retain volunteer attorneys in private practice to take VIP cases:

• Using VIP’s volunteer database, conduct routine, thoughtful outreach to persuade volunteers to take cases.
• Proactively seek opportunities to engage new, current, and lapsed volunteers with VIP’s mission and casework, including by collaborating on the development of better volunteer outreach and engagement techniques.
• Actively strengthen partnerships with partner organizations, including PEPP organizations and tenant advocates, law firms, and solo practitioners, with the goal of strengthening VIP’s bank of landlord-tenant volunteers.
• Organize and conduct trainings, CLEs, orientations, and other events for volunteer attorneys, including those related to landlord-tenant law.
• Regularly update training materials and volunteer resources, including those related to landlord-tenant law.
• Track metrics to evaluate and improve recruitment and retention efforts and legal program outcomes, particularly those related to our landlord-tenant project.

Manage a Legal Team strategic project:

• Administer a distinct project tied to VIP’s legal work, which will include developing a deeper knowledge of a particular legal issue, in this case, VIP’s Landlord-Tenant Eviction Defense Project.
• Improve the project’s structure, methods, and design, as necessary.

Lead and support other efforts to further VIP’s mission and strategic goals:

• Track metrics to meet goals and improve recruitment, retention, and case referrals.
• Help implement VIP’s strategic plan, including primary responsibility for designated task(s).
• Develop and strengthen sources of “in-kind” case support services for volunteers, including interpreters and translators for language access.
• Attend occasional evening events or weekend events.
• Attend regular meetings, and perform all other duties, as assigned.

VIP’s generous benefits include medical and dental insurance (with employee medical premium fully paid by VIP); a 403(b) plan with employer contributions; short-and long-term disability and life insurance; flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care; industry-leading paid time off, including substantial vacation and sick time, 12+ paid holidays, and paid parental leave; an individual budget for professional development; and alternative work arrangements, including generous telework hours and scheduling flexibility. This position is part of a bargaining unit of employees represented by UAW.

Spanish-speakers highly preferred