The Portland Regional Office of Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is seeking a supervising attorney to focus on outreach and intake. The person in this position supervises staff attorneys and paralegals and assists the Regional Director in directing the legal advocacy and outreach of the office.
Background
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs provide services to farmworkers and representation on Native American issues. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program that is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on client community problems. LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that centers on racial equity. LASO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients.
The Portland Regional Office of LASO serves a poverty population of more than 220,000. The office serves Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Sherman and Wasco counties, a diverse service area requiring the ability to work effectively with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds.
Responsibilities
This position assists the Regional Director in supervising and developing staff attorneys, managing the legal advocacy and outreach in the office. They will supervise staff attorneys and paralegals, and manage an active caseload ranging from brief service and advice to full representation. The supervising attorney is expected to provide structure and cohesion for community-based outreach, training, and aid in the development of strategic impact litigation and advocacy aimed at bringing justice to low-income people in Oregon.
A significant part of this position is to bring enthusiasm and excitement to the work of the office and provide positive support to and mentoring of lawyers. This person is also expected to demonstrate solid understanding of anti-bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression and help lead the office in its effort to implement a race equity framework.
Qualifications
Five years of legal experience required, preferably in the areas of family law, civil rights, immigration or public benefits. Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable clients. The ideal candidate will have a broad range of poverty law experience and have experience and aptitude for supervising others and providing developmental planning for staff. Enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and willingness to work collaboratively. Demonstrated understanding and commitment to anti-bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression. LASO has a hiring preference for candidates who are bilingual in Spanish and/or another language and are members of the Oregon State Bar.
Supplemental question
Please provide a written response to the following question and submit as part of your application materials. Limit response to 500 words.
LASO is committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. Our client communities include people of color, farmworkers, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, seniors, people with lived experiences of homelessness, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from other underrepresented groups. It is essential to our mission that we also work to create an inclusive and respectful workplace environment in which differences are acknowledged and valued. How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to: (1) serve our diverse client communities effectively, (2) work effectively with colleagues from backgrounds different than your own, (3) acknowledge the systemic barriers that our clients face, and (4) contribute to our efforts to achieve racial justice? Feel free to provide examples and apply various aspects of your life and personal experiences in your response.
Salary/Benefits
Salary range $77,500 for five years of experience to $109,000 for 30 years of experience. Additional compensation for bilingual ability. Full benefits package including individual and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage; 6% employer retirement contribution; generous paid holidays, vacation and sick leave; and paid moving expenses.
Applications
Send resume and letter of interest to:
Legal Aid Services of Oregon
520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 700
Portland, OR 97204
projobs@lasoregon.org
Closing Date
Open until filled. Review of resumes to begin September 2, 2022.
We celebrate diversity
LASO is committed to being an organization that reflects the communities we serve and is diverse in race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities, work background, experience and education. We believe that the outcome of such diversity is our greatest strength and a matter of basic human fairness. It is to this end that we strongly encourage applications from people of color and people from any other underrepresented and historically marginalized group to apply for this position.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is an effective, high-quality legal services program with a mission to achieve justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. LASO emphasizes areas of law where these needs are greatest and where representation and advocacy can have the most impact for vulnerable Oregonians.