AmeriCorps Legal Fellow – Elder Justice Legal Fellowship
Organization. Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
Position. AmeriCorps Legal Fellow – Elder Justice Legal Fellowship
Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. is hosting a one year fellowship sponsored by Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps to assist older adults who are victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation with a focus on financial exploitation. The attorney selected for the Fellowship will be housed at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.’s main office near downtown Miami. According to Equal Justice Works/AmeriCorps guidelines, the fellowship must begin between September 1 and September 30, 2016 and continues for one year.
Fellowship Description. The Equal Justice Works Elder Justice Legal Fellow will:
Provide high quality legal services to older adults who have been or are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. In most instances, this will involve conducting intake, assembling evidence, conducting interviews, researching the relevant law and representing the client before administrative, judicial and appellate courts. Provide know your rights sessions targeted to seniors and social service providers who serve them at community-based settings. Recruit and train pro bono attorneys, through new and existing programs affiliated with Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. Collect data on the nature of the abuse and the services provided, including the indicia of abuse, the legal issue for which the client is receiving services, and the identity of the alleged perpetrators of abuse. Position is a one-year fellowship, with a possible one year extension contingent upon continued AmeriCorps funding.
Qualifications. The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
· The ability to undergo and pass AmeriCorps mandated criminal background check.
· A strong demonstrated commitment to practicing public interest law and serving low income older adults.
· A member of the Florida Bar or have taken the July 2016 Florida Bar and immediately qualified for admission upon release of Bar results.
· Excellent research, writing, public speaking, organizational and collaboration skills.
· Prior successful experience managing independent projects or assignments.
· Law school clinic, externship, summer or other relevant practice experience.
· Bilingual in Spanish or Haitian Creole preferred but not required.
· A valid driver license.
· The ability to begin the fellowship no later than September 30, 2016.
· Those with experience regarding elder law, real property, or consumer issues are strongly encouraged to apply.
Compensation. The Fellow will receive an annual living allowance as well as financial support for housing and other permissible reimbursable living expenses. Additionally, Fellows receive an education award, health insurance, dental and life insurance, parking, position related travel reimbursement, bar dues, and the opportunity to attend national trainings focused on leadership, networking project development and elder law. Childcare assistance is available if the Fellow is income eligible.
Application Instructions. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume by September 6, 2016 via email with the subject line: AmeriCorps Fellowship – [Your Last Name]. The letter of interest should clearly refer to the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellowship position. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible as they will be reviewed as they are submitted. The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow is scheduled to begin the term of service no later than September 30th, 2016.
The Host Organization. Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. is the only provider of the full range of free civil legal services in Miami- Dade County and Monroe County (Florida Keys). Legal Services’ team of legal professionals is committed to achieving Equal Justice and eradicating the barriers to economic and social stability created by poverty and injustice. Founded in 1966, Legal Services provides the full range of civil legal services with a focus on housing, consumer, community development, income, health, tax and education issues. Special projects provide services to meet the unique legal needs of special populations including older adults, disabled individuals, people who are homeless, formerly incarcerated individuals, persons with AIDS, veterans, transgender individuals and taxpayers. For more information, please visit the website.
Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified applicants upon request. Auxiliary aids and services are available in alternative formats.