Lavender Legal Center | Seeking Staff Attorney
Description: Lavender Legal Center seeks a Staff Attorney in Iowa. The Staff Attorney will provide direct representation in the areas of family formation, estate planning, and trans* law, and conduct legal clinics across Iowa, with a focus on rural communities, for LGBTQ+ Iowans. The attorney will provide other legal services as needed in order to both help expand access to legal services for LGBTQ Iowans and expand the types of legal services offered by Lavender. When not traveling for clinics and Court proceedings, most work can be done remotely.
About Lavender Legal Center: Lavender Legal Center is a nonprofit based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa which provides direct legal representation, advocacy, and referrals for LGBTQ people across the state. Lavender strives to provide a safe space for everyone in the LGBTQ community to access compassionate and specialized legal representation and related advocacy. Learn more about Lavender at https://www.lavenderlegalcenter.org.
Primary Responsibilities:
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Meet regularly with current and potential clients
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Conduct legal clinics across Iowa, with a focus on rural communities
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Assist with the direct representation, advocacy, and referrals of clients and service inquirers
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Conduct legal research and draft legal documents
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Represent clients at hearings and meetings
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Engage in litigation
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Provide regular and timely updates and reports to the Legal Director and/or Executive Director
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Assist in the development of LGBTQ legal education and advocacy materials
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Acquire knowledge of community services and connect clients to needed resources
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Meet with individual donors to discuss the Legal Program as necessary and in conjunction with the Executive Director
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Engage in additional responsibilities and projects as needed to meet the needs of the LGBTQ community and fulfill Lavender’s mission
Qualifications: Lavender attorneys provide a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ community. They aim to promote the dignity, equality, and safety of LGBTQ people, and seek to minimize barriers to legal representation and related advocacy. Lavender attorneys regularly communicate with LGBTQ Iowans, including LGBTQ youth, sometimes about difficult topics and at vulnerable times in their lives. An applicant should have excellent written and oral communication skills. Lavender attorneys must have strong interpersonal skills and be able to work alongside diverse groups of people. They are required to maintain confidential and sensitive information and should have exceptional organizational and time management skills. They should possess high attention to detail, and they must have computer and general software literacy. Lavender attorneys have a commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts. Applicants should have the ability to travel within the state of Iowa. And, applicants must demonstrate a firm commitment to Lavender’s mission and principles.
Education & Experience: Applicants must be law school graduates licensed to practice law in Iowa. A public interest background and/or prior experience working or otherwise identifying with the LGBTQ community is preferred. We value a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals.
Salary & Benefits: This position is full-time (35-40 hours per week). Lavender uses an egalitarian pay scale. Full-time attorneys have an annual salary of $50,000. Excellent fringe benefits are available, including six weeks of paid time off, paid time off for all major holidays, four-day work week option, twelve weeks of paid parental leave, reimbursement for phone costs, paid bar memberships, and a flexible work schedule with majority remote work.
Applications: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and list of professional references to Executive Director, Kendra Weston, at info@lavenderlegal.org. No calls please.