Charleston Legal Access is seeking a full-time attorney

TO APPLY: Submit cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample to [email protected] with subject line “Attorney Application.” Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Charleston Legal Access (“CLA”) seeks purpose-driven, dynamic applicants from diverse lived experiences for a full-time attorney position. The position ideally begins in July 2022.

About CLA

Charleston Legal Access is a nonprofit, sliding scale law firm designed to fill a void in the legal community and offer services not provided by any other organization in the state. A small but mighty team of 6, our mission is to expand legal representation and access to justice in the Lowcountry by providing low-cost, quality legal representation and assistance to the working poor and others of modest means who do not qualify for free legal aid but who cannot afford a private attorney.

In addition, we take on projects to expand access to justice like increasing language access in the courts and the Housing Court Pilot project to reduce the rate of evictions in Charleston County.

CLA serves those whose gross annual income is 400% or below the Federal Poverty Line. We serve Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties and handle a wide range of civil legal matters, including family law, housing, landlord tenant, property, elder law, guardianships, conservatorships, probate, and victims’ rights.

The Position

The staff attorney’s primary responsibility will be handling his or her own docket of civil cases. We handle a broad range of civil cases, including Family Law, Housing, Landlord/Tenant, Property, Contracts, Estate Planning, Guardianships. The attorney’s caseload will primarily focus on family law.

In addition, some time will also be devoted to assessing and adjusting the organization’s approach to its work (participating in case selection and analysis, strategy discussions, access to justice projects, etc.); completing some administrative and intake tasks; and representing CLA at outreach and community events.

We are a young and expanding organization and there are future opportunities for career growth.

Required qualifications (must haves):

• Be admitted to the South Carolina Bar.
• Be located in or willing to relocate to the Tri-county area.
• Experience as a practicing attorney, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in Family Law.
• Strong analytical, legal writing and research skills.
• A desire to be part of a growing nonprofit legal service agency that strives to make the legal system uncomplicated, approachable, and most importantly, accessible to everyone.

• Commitment to CLA’s team values.

Preferred qualifications (nice to haves):

• Strong academic credentials.
• Ability to handle a diverse and full caseload.
• Ability to operate successfully in a fast-paced environment that places a high premium on accuracy, excellence, and execution.
• Ability to work independently when necessary.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time while meeting critical deadlines.
• Common sense, great judgment, and a positive and willing attitude.
• Team player who enjoys working with and supporting the other attorneys and staff.
• Dedication to and competency in serving a diverse range of clients with a variety of financial, racial, educational, and physical characteristics.

• Proven track record of effectively working with marginalized persons and communities.
• Bi-lingual Spanish speaker a plus.

Salary and Other Benefits

The salary range is $60,000-$70,000 based on experience; benefits include health insurance, phone stipend, Flex Spending Account, phone stipend, flex time, 3 weeks PTO, and semi-remote. Interested applicants should contact Lana Kleiman at [email protected] with a cover letter, resume, and/or any follow-up questions.

Charleston Legal Access is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, familial or veteran status, and we strongly encourage applications from persons of diverse backgrounds.