Veteran Services Unit Attorney

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing legal assistance and advocacy for low-income individuals and families. We work to ensure access to justice and fair treatment in the areas of housing, consumer rights, family law, and other essential legal services. JALA’s dedicated Veteran Services Unit (VSU) provides free services and legal representation to Northeast Florida veterans. Demand for VSU family law services has only increased since the unit’s inception in 2019.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JALA seeks an experienced family law attorney for its Veteran Services Unit located in our Jacksonville office. This is a full-time legal role, dedicated to serving local veterans and active-duty service members. The candidate must be a member of the Florida Bar with at least 3 years of experience in the practice of marital and family law, including, but not limited to, dissolution of marriage, establishing and modifying child support, paternity, and injunctions for protection. The position requires the ability to identify additional needs of clients in various other areas of law, such as consumer, housing, employment, and VA benefits.

The candidate should have experience working with veterans/active-duty military and understand military/government retirement and related financial documents. The candidate should be able to work with clients who have experienced or are currently experiencing trauma, as many veteran clients come to us with PTSD-related issues that are often compounded by or catalysts for their legal issues. Those with prior military service will be strongly considered, though such service is not required.

What you get when you come to JALA

JALA is the premier litigation legal aid firm in the Southeastern United States. We are mission-driven, and our team makes a difference in our community. As a JALA employee, you can expect immediate hands-on experience interviewing and counseling clients as well as litigating cases in Federal and State courts. Staff can expect to take on challenging cases for our at-risk clients while being mentored and supported in taking on such cases. While there is a premium placed on initiative and self-motivation, you can expect to be supervised by lawyers who are recognized as subject matter experts in their field (JALA is the only law firm in Florida with two Florida Bar Consumer Protection Lawyers of the Year on staff, for example) Our lawyers and paralegals regularly serve on local and statewide committees, and our lawyers have gone on to become hearing officers, magistrates, judges and administrative law judges. In addition to the opportunity to litigate early, our lawyers and staff are trusted as professionals - we have adopted a hybrid work environment (although not all positions are able to work remotely) Regardless of what others may prefer, we embrace diversity and inclusion as a way to ensure we are the most prepared to offer the best and highest level of representation for clients, as this is what they deserve from us.

Salary/Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience. $77,500 minimum if 3 yrs experience. Sign-on bonus. Benefits package include, but are not limited to, hybrid work model, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, group life insurance, 401(k) (match 100% of deferrals up to 6% of compensation), generous leave policy (13 paid holidays plus 22 personal leave days in first year, one-month sabbatical every four years), and membership in Access Perks, a private discount network.

To apply, submit a resume, a minimum of two professional references, and salary requirements.

All employees must clear Florida’s Level II background screening. Information on the background screening process can be found on https://info.flclearinghouse.com/.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer

$77,500 yearly DOE

• Conduct applicant intake and client interviews
• Provide exhaustive advice and counsel to individuals seeking legal assistance
• Draft legally sufficient pleadings and motions
• Effectively represent clients in mediation and in settlement discussions
• Zealous representation of clients in depositions, hearings, and at trial
• Timely compliance with grant requirements
• Supervise support staff
• Assist in the planning of and participation in clinics and outreach events
• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of applicable case law, statutes, and court rules

• Member in good standing of The Florida Bar
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in marital and family law
• Familiarity with the Florida Family Law Rules of Civil Procedure
• Experience working with veterans and/or active-duty service members

The mission of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. is to provide high-quality legal assistance to low-income and special needs groups, to empower them to accomplish energetic and affirmative advocacy, all to alleviate the circumstances, incidents, and causes of poverty and discrimination.

Developed during the Great Depression and subsequent recession of 1937, the organization that has become Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. JALA was born when a group of Jacksonville Bar attorneys banded together to provide legal services to those in need.

Called different names over the years, including Duval County Legal Aid Association, it was officially named Jacksonville Area Legal Aid in 1973. The organization achieved 501(c)3 status in 1976. JALA now serves 17 counties of North Florida, including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.