Michigan Advocacy Program - Pro Bono Project Attorney

POSITION: The Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP) is seeking a Pro Bono Project Attorney to provide high-level legal support for MAP’s Pro Bono Expungement project. This initiative is designed to help eligible low-income Michiganders clear their criminal records and gain access to better jobs, housing, and public benefits. Much of the expungement work at MAP is done with the help of pro bono attorneys, coordinated by MAP’s Pro Bono Manager and Administrator. We are also implementing a new Legal Navigator Program to assist pro bono and staff attorneys with the administrative obstacles faced by our clients during the expungement process. This program will be led by a Pro bono Project Paralegal, who is responsible for recruiting, training, and supporting Legal Navigator volunteers. The Pro Bono Project Attorney will work with all teams to provide effective expungement services for our clients. This position is a two-year contract.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: LSSCM has served low-income residents of south central Michigan for more than 50 years. LSSCM helps individuals and families achieve safety, stability, and economic security by providing free civil legal services with an emphasis on homelessness prevention, domestic violence and elder abuse prevention, and assistance in accessing health care, food, and needs-based income programs. We are the Legal Services Corporation and state-funded civil legal aid provider in southern and central Michigan, covering 13 counties. LSSCM is a program of Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP). In addition to LSSCM, MAP manages six statewide programs serving immigrant communities (Michigan Immigrant Rights Center), vulnerable older adults (Michigan Elder Justice Initiative), victims of domestic violence and elder abuse (Crime Victims Legal Assistance Program), providing access to legal information to self-represented litigants (Michigan Legal Help Program), and providing case support and training for all the legal services providers in Michigan (Michigan Poverty Law Program). MAP has a staff of about 200 people in offices in Battle Creek, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Monroe, and Ypsilanti. Visit lsscm.org and miadvocacy.org for more information.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Pro Bono Project Attorney responsibilities include helping to recruit new pro bono attorneys, running expungement fairs, developing and conducting trainings, reviewing attorney reports, and sending determination letters to clients after pro bono attorneys screen cases for eligibility. This attorney will also be responsible for cases until they are placed with a pro bono attorney for representation, and provide support, including co-counseling, to attorneys working on pro bono cases. They will work with the Legal Navigator Coordinator to ensure smooth collaboration between pro bono attorneys and Legal Navigators. The Pro Bono Pro Bono Project Attorney will work with the Pro Bono Manager and MAP’s Director of Advocacy to develop case law that works in favor of our client base, including finding and exploring potential appellate cases. They will provide the basis for this work, utilizing their knowledge of program-wide trends to effectively litigate cases.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants should be licensed to practice law in Michigan with 3+ years of experience. Applicants must possess excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills as well as a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income individuals and underserved populations through lived or learned experience. Expungement experience is preferred. 

BENEFITS: This is a full-time position with a salary starting at $50,000 depending on experience. MAP offers a generous benefits package including life, short and long term disability, health, vision, dental and flexible spending accounts. If an applicant does not require health benefits, they have the option to take an annual $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary paid over the course of the year. MAP also has a generous leave policy allowing staff to accrue 3 weeks paid vacation the first year and 13 paid holidays, as well as an annual 2% contribution and 2% match to retirement plan subject to board approval for eligible staff. MAP is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. MAP is a unionized program.

TO APPLY: Please submit your resume and cover letter by email to jobs@lsscm.org with “Pro Bono Project Attorney” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

LSSCM is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Minorities, persons with disabilities, and women are encouraged to apply.

Date Posted