Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. (Legal Action) seeks a full-time staff attorney to work with a state-wide crime victims’ rights project, staffed by attorneys from Legal Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Judicare. Legal Action Project lawyers provide service to clients in the southern 39 counties of the state. Legal Action of Wisconsin (LAW) values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and women to apply. LAW invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.
Preferred home location is Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee office, 230 West Wells Street. We will also consider candidates who wish to be based in any of Legal Action of Wisconsin’s other five offices. Telecommuting arrangements may be considered if it would increase the project’s capacity to serve clients located in geographically isolated areas. Please tell us where you would prefer to be in your cover letter.
LEGAL ACTION OF WISCONSIN, INC.
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is a law firm funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF), and other sources. Our mission is to provide free civil legal aid to low-income persons the 39 Wisconsin
To provide maximum access for its eligible client population, Legal Action maintains offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Oshkosh, Green Bay, and La Crosse. In addition, Legal Action operates a statewide Farmworker Project; and service-territory wide projects, including an Elder Rights Project (focusing on crime victims over sixty), the Disabled Offenders Economic Security Project (serving incarcerated individuals suffering from severe mental health issues), and the Crime Victims’ Rights Project.
CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Legal Action’s Crime Victim Rights Project provides free legal advice and representation to victims of crime to ensure that a victim’s constitutional and statutory privacy and Ch. 950 crime victim rights are not violated, and when a violation occurs, seek to remedy that issue. We also provide other kinds of civil legal services that contribute to the safety and security of crime victims.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
For the Project: The attorney hired for the project will be responsible for assisting victims in active criminal prosecutions to help protect and assert their Chapter 950 rights. The attorney will provide advocacy in and outside of court on behalf of the client, including accompanying a client to meetings with law enforcement, communicating with the District Attorney’s Office, providing support and information during the criminal proceeding, as well as filing and arguing motions.
Project attorneys work on issues that are new and where precedent is not fully established. The attorney hired for this project will need to be creative, and able to work collaboratively with other project members on specific cases or general projects.
Depending on client needs, the new project attorney may also be required to provide advocacy in areas such as restraining orders, eviction actions, claims for restitution, privacy protection programs such as Safe at Home, and filing or litigating complaints involving the Crime Victims’ Rights Board.
Other duties may be assigned from time to time as the needs of our clients vary. Staff attorneys may train and mentor non-attorney staff and volunteers. Experienced advocates may train and mentor other attorneys.
For Legal Action: All Legal Action staff attorneys are responsible for providing quality and aggressive representation of clients in service cases and in impact work, and for performing all duties associated with such representation. Attorneys must keep up with the law as it changes and develops, particularly in their area of specialization. Attorneys are expected to share responsibility for the development and maintenance of good working relationships with community groups, as well as with state and local bar associations. Attorneys will be called upon to provide training and other assistance to members of Legal Action's Volunteer Lawyer Project. Each staff attorney is responsible for serving on at least one Firm Priority Committee.
Client Population and Travel and Schedule Requirements: The position involves regular, though not constant, travel to meet with clients and go to court in the southern counties of Wisconsin. In addition, the new project attorney will have some responsibilities involving outreach, to agencies, non-profits, and referral sources. We are seeking to increase the diversity of our client population so skills, such as fluency in Spanish, or experiences that will contribute to that goal will be valuable.
The project attorney will generally have the freedom to set his or her own schedule with respect to client meetings. However, we expect that scheduling will reflect crime victims’ rights to dignity in an understanding of the traumatic situations many project clients are in.
Training: The amount and structure of the training will be determined by the attorney’s experience with the criminal justice system, Wisconsin Chapter 950, and other areas of substantive law that are important in our practice, including privacy and records, family law, employment discrimination and sexual harassment. Legal Action of Wisconsin’s crime victims’ rights attorneys participate in video-conference meetings every two weeks to discuss cases, substantive law, intake issues, and other matters. The project will fund specialized crime victims’ rights trainings presented by outside groups. We also have s significant archive of raining materials, relevant law and secondary sources, and motion and briefing templates that will be helpful for a less-experienced attorney,
QUALIFICATIONS
For this position, prior experience with the criminal justice system is preferred, though not required. Past work with crime victims, including victims of sexual assault and sexual or gender violence, would also be a plus as would a concern with, or interest in, work that combines direct client representation with a focus on law development and systemic change.
Admission to the Wisconsin Bar or the ability to become admitted by the Fall of 2019 is required. You will also need a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.
We welcome applications from candidates with varied experience and with any number of years of experience as a lawyer.
Legal Action requires a commitment to legal services work and to providing quality and aggressive representation in service cases and in impact work. Attorneys must be knowledgeable in state and federal law and procedure. Attorneys must meet high standards of written and courtroom advocacy. Attorneys must be able to communicate both orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner and work harmoniously with others. Ability to handle and prioritize many pressing matters in various locations is needed.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Starting salary depends upon experience and qualifications, with a minimum starting salary of $45,727 for attorneys with 0 – 1 year of experience. Position includes a full fringe benefit package, which currently include:
• Employer-paid health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance premiums;
• Employer profit-sharing contribution plan;
• Four weeks of annual leave for employees with less than 10 years of service;
• Four days of personal leave per calendar year for employees with less than six years of service. (Personal leave time is granted on January 1st and expires on December 31st and new employees receive a pro-rated allotment upon hire; and
• Twelve days of sick leave per year.
The position is subject to a probationary period of up to one year. As with any Legal Action position, there is no guaranteed period of employment and employment is “at will,” subject to termination at any time.
HOW TO APPLY
Email applications are preferred and strongly encouraged. Application materials must be submitted as a PDF. Applicants may email applications to
crimevictimsrightsattorneyposition@legalaction.org.
Interested applicants should send 1) a cover letter that indicates the name of this position, 2) resumé, 3) the names of and contact information for three references, 4) recent writing sample(s) and, 5) law school transcript(s) to:
Attorney Shelia Sullivan
Project Director Crime Victim’s Rights
230 W. Wells Street, Suite 800
Milwaukee, WI 53203
DEADLINE
This position will be open until filled but we will review applicants on a rolling basis. To ensure early consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible and no later than close of business at 5:00 pm Sunday, June 30, 2019.
