Casa Myrna is Greater Boston’s foremost provider of solutions to end domestic and dating violence. The agency operates three residential programs in Boston for survivors and children made homeless by domestic violence, a comprehensive range of advocacy and supportive services, and SafeLink, Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 toll-free domestic violence hotline. Casa Myrna believes that every relationship should be safe and healthy, and works to end domestic and dating violence through education, awareness and prevention.
The Legal Advocacy Program serves clients by representing them in domestic violence-related family law and abuse prevention matters in the courts of Greater Boston; representing survivors in filing affirmative applications for immigration relief; offering brief service and legal advocacy where representation is not provided; and managing a Legal HelpLine for telephone assistance and intake purposes. The Bilingual Staff Attorney will provide legal services to the Legal Advocacy Program’s clients and reports to the Managing Attorney. This position is open to applicants with experience or interest in either immigration or family law.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides legal consultations to Casa Myrna program participants, community clients, and Legal HelpLine callers in order to identify and analyze their legal issues.
- Educates survivors about their options so they can make their own informed decisions, with the goal of minimizing the risk of outcomes that jeopardize safety and wellbeing.
- Provides representation to survivors in 209A proceedings in District Courts; maintains a caseload of either family law or immigration domestic violence-related cases thereby enhancing access to legal remedies for those affected by abuse.
- Provides legal assistance in the form of “brief service” to Legal Advocacy Program clients for whom limited or full representation is not offered by assisting them with legal advice and the preparation of court documents and facilitating referrals.
- Advocates for clients in collateral legal matters such as housing and benefits.
- Seeks and attends relevant professional development trainings, conferences and coalition meetings within Casa Myrna and the community.
- Collaborates with Managing Attorney on outreach and legal education for participants in other Casa Myrna programs, community members, law schools, and partner organizations.
- Participates in weekly program and case assessment meetings.
- Develops own professional development plan and attends trainings, meetings, and conferences within Casa Myrna and in the community.
- Performs additional duties as assigned by the Managing Attorney.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Committed to Casa Myrna’s mission of ending domestic and dating violence and commercial sexual exploitation and promoting social justice and social change.
- J.D. degree; admission to and good standing in the Massachusetts bar required.
- Spoken fluency in a second language required (with preference for Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole).
- Experience in providing legal services (as a law student or attorney) to survivors of trauma, abuse and/or exploitation required; some family law and/or immigration experience strongly preferred.
- Strong preference for candidates who identify as a member of a marginalized community as Casa Myrna works to be an inclusive and equitable organization.
- Demonstrated ability to utilize appropriate, non-judgmental communication techniques when responding to survivors that illustrates sensitivity to their experiences and needs. Prior experience interviewing and counseling survivors of trauma and abuse preferred.
- Ability to work and advocate in a collaborative style with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic groups, as well as diversity based on ability/disability, sexual orientation and religion.
- Familiarity with local legal services providers, community agencies, and resources.
- Computer literacy and strong data entry skills.
- Ability to work independently and in a team with lawyer and non-lawyer colleagues.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
- Promotes an atmosphere of respect and cooperation; maintains confidentiality regarding program participants.
- Models and maintains professional boundaries with callers, clients, and colleagues.
Salary: $64,000 - $75,000, based on years of experience practicing law
Location: Boston (Dorchester)
Hours: Full-time (4 days and 35 hours/week)
Benefits: Casa Myrna offers family friendly schedule; generous paid time off and holidays; health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance; flexible spending account; health reimbursement account; retirement savings plan with employer match; Employee Assistance Program; and opportunities for professional development
Casa Myrna is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity and hiring people with diverse life experiences. Survivors, people who are bilingual/bicultural, persons of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people are strongly encouraged to apply.
The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. If reasonable accommodations are needed during recruitment process, email [email protected].
To be considered, submit resume and cover letter.
