Staff Attorney

Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Are you passionate about helping others who are in need across different groups? Do you value work life balance? If you answer yes to these questions, Bay Area Legal Services may be the workplace for you!

Bay Area Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm serving the Tampa Bay area for over 50 years. We assist low-income residents, veterans, seniors, children, domestic violence survivors, and many more.

Our Mission: Providing the highest quality legal counsel by:

• Assisting individuals and nonprofit groups with limited access to legal services
• Resolving the legal problems of our clients
• Preserving the independence, hope, and dignity of those we serve.

Our Vision: Creating pathways to justice through high-quality legal services, education and community partnerships.

Our firm includes over 170 dedicated staff members comprised of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff who work to carry out our mission and vision daily.

Position Title: Staff Attorney (Full-time)

Location: Main Office in Tampa, FL-Ybor City

(Hybrid, 3 days in office & 2 days remote)

Position Description: Bay Area Legal Services (BALS) is seeking to hire an attorney for a full-time position on the Family Law Team. Staff Attorneys will facilitate or directly provide qualified legal services to low-income clients to meet their civil legal needs. This is a hybrid position funded under a Legal Assistance for Victims grant, administrated by the Office on Violence Against Woman, U.S. Department of Justice. The attorney in this position will provide legal representation to individuals who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The attorney will work with a team of approximately seven other attorneys, an accredited immigration representative, and support staff, and will be expected to handle a caseload of family law and immigration cases.

Illustrative Duties:

• Interview applicants and determine if eligibility requirements for established legal services are satisfied. Documents all client case information and related time spent in case management system accurately and timely. Ensure compliance with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) or other grantor requirements.
• Representation in court including emergency advocacy.
• Providing representation for domestic violence survivors primarily in family court proceedings involving dissolution of marriage, paternity, parental time-sharing, support, property distribution, and other legal matters including immigration.
• Develop and implement strategies to resolve cases favorably. Prepare legal documents, such as contracts, dispositions, briefs, oral arguments, and pleadings, accurately and in a timely manner. Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making, gather and analyze evidence, identify implications for cases from legal precedents or other legal information. Negotiate settlement of cases with opposing attorneys or parties. Prepare necessary correspondence relating to services rendered. Create and maintain relationships with organizations that are commonly adverse parties, where possible, to facilitate case resolution. Attend team meetings and collaborate with other attorneys on case questions.
• Supervise and mentor junior attorneys, legal assistants and other legal personnel on family law and immigration matters.
• Assist other poverty program components as needed and offer advice in public relations, participate in appropriate community activities. This includes participation in BALS in-house committees and outside community/Florida Bar events when asked or needed.
• Referring clients to appropriate social services agencies and various community partners for additional services, if needed.
• Advice and assistance in connection with crime victim compensation.
• Compliance with grant requirements.
• Perform other duties as designated by the Team Leader.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate(JD), Florida Bar licensed and in good standing with the Bar
• 2 years of experience as an attorney
• Strong interpersonal skills, and ability to effectively communicate with clients and the legal community
• Ability to work well as part of a team
• Excellent writtenand verbal communications skills
• Excellent prioritization skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Sympathetic and compassionate understanding of the social, economic, and legal issues faced by low-income individuals with limited access to such services. Ability to relate well and effectively with diverse groups and individuals.

Desirable Qualifications

• Self-motivated and goal oriented
• Experience in family law and immigration practice
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus

Compensation & Benefits:

• Starting salary $71,480.00/yr. (increases based on relevant experience).
• Reimbursement for travel expenses for work events (mileage etc.)
• Bay Area offers a comprehensive benefit package including a 4% match for the 403b retirement plan with immediate vesting as well as Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability coverage and more.
• Bay Area also offers generous time off and work life balance with 13 paid holidays and three (3) weeks’ vacation for the 1st year of employment and a 37.5-hour work week.

This position requires successful completion of a level II background screening based on the required duties and responsibilities. to Apply:

• Send Resume and Cover Letter (including why this position is of interest to you) to and state how you learned about the position. Rolling applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Bay Area Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran.