Attorney-Legal Help Desk

Company: Lambda Legal
Location: Los Angeles
Posted on: January 28, 2023

Job Description:

Position: Attorney-Legal Help DeskDepartment: LegalOffice Location: Los Angeles, CAType: Per Lambda Legal's Work From Home (WFH) Policy, Work From Office (WFO) and WFH options are available with supervisor approval. There is a minimum expectation to be in the office to onboard with team members - and 1 day with advance notice each quarter thereafter.Report To: Legal Help Desk DirectorUnion Status: G5 (on a scale of G1-G9)Annual Salary Range: $84,200-$86,700Travel: Approximately 10% for conferences, meetings, and other eventsFLSA Status: Full-Time/ExemptWho We AreLambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC.We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. In light of this reality, we prioritize awareness and proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects.Help Desk AttorneyLambda Legal Help Desk Attorneys are responsible for responding to requests for information and legal assistance as well as public education and cross-department collaboration. They respond to a high volume of requests for legal information and provide general guidance and assistance to people who contact the Legal Help Desk with questions concerning discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. Help Desk Attorneys provide professional, empathetic assistance during the intake process, often including suggestions for self-advocacy with information provided. Help Desk Attorneys also collaborate with colleagues throughout Lambda Legal to improve the effectiveness of the Help Desk and to support the organization's litigation, policy advocacy, and public education work. In addition, Help Desk Attorneys make occasional public appearances and presentations in areas of topical expertise on the legal rights of LGBTQ+ people.ResponsibilitiesReceive, investigate, resolve, document, and respond to a high volume of requests for assistance received through multiple channels (e.g., phone, online inquiries, email, and letters).Assess, research and, where appropriate, escalate requests for further action through internal Legal department channels.Promptly record requests in the Legal Help Desk database.Consult internally with members of the Legal department to help identify matters for advocacy or possible litigation, consistent with Lambda Legal's strategic impact priorities.Develop and maintain Help Desk resources, including fact sheets and database materials.Conduct legal research and may draft legal memos on potential new advocacy and legal matters.Collaborate as a Help Desk team to continuously improve overall impact and effectiveness of the Help Desk, such as by sharing and incorporating best practices and identifying opportunities for improvement.Share Lambda Legal's organizational expertise by making presentations at legal and other professional conferences and seminars and through other forms of written and oral public education.Work collaboratively with colleagues throughout Lambda Legal to advance knowledge about and gain support for Lambda Legal's efforts to secure full legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV.With guidance from their supervisors, seek opportunities for professional development and take ownership of their own professional goals, and support the professional development of peers and other Legal department staff.QualificationsSuccessful Help Desk Attorney candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves.Skills and competencies include:J.D. DegreeLicense to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and, if not a member of the CA bar, willingness to sit for the California BarStrong interpersonal skills and exceptional communication skills, both written and spoken, with an ability to provide active listening and empathetic serviceAbility to navigate a wide variety of stakeholders and juggle competing priorities and interestsComfortable working under tight timelines in a fast-paced environmentAbility to translate complex legal issues into comprehensible language for non-lawyersPreferred, but not requiredExperience with Lambda Legal or other civil rights-oriented or non-profit legal organizationExperience in the LGBTQ+/HIV rights movementExperience working with historically marginalized communitiesAbility to speak Spanish or other commonly encountered language other than EnglishBenefitsBenefits include Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Medical Insurance (Telemedicine included), Dental Insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program - all at no cost for the employee-only premium. Employees may obtain additional coverage for themselves and/or their families including Vision Insurance at a low cost. They also may enroll in a pre-tax Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Account, and Commuter Transit Account. Lambda Legal offers a 403(b)-Retirement Plan with a percentage match from Lambda Legal as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between Lambda Legal management and the Lambda Unites bargaining unit. Paid time off includes the opportunity to accrue up to 15 days of vacation, 3 personal and 12 sick. Lambda Legal observes 10 holidays per year and is supportive of observance of religious holidays. Read more about Lambda Legal's work on our blog, Twitter, and Instagram.Lambda Legal believes in creating a more equitable playing field for applicants and values the depth of relevant skills built through successful education, work, and life experiences. If your background and skills are a close match for this position, you are strongly encouraged to apply.Lambda Legal is committed to further building and maintaining a staff that reflects the full range of LGBTQ+, HIV-affected and allied communities, and is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender-diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals living with HIV are all encouraged to apply.wxpxfYzCdQ

Keywords: Lambda Legal, Los Angeles , Attorney-Legal Help Desk, Legal , Los Angeles, California