The Mission of TAP: Texas Advocacy Project’s mission is to end dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Texas. Texas Advocacy Project empowers survivors through free legal services and access to the justice system, and advances prevention through public outreach and education. Our vision is that all Texans live free from abuse.
This role is Hybrid, open to the following PREFERRED Texas areas: Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas.
TAP Core Values are Integrity, Courage, Innovation, & Empowerment
General Description:
The Project is seeking a full-time staff attorney who will provide a range of legal services to the Project’s clients, including providing legal advice and counsel on our statewide legal line, drafting legal pleadings for use by pro se clients, directly representing clients, participating in statewide advocacy efforts, and performing a range of other civil legal services as required.
All staff assists in overall office responsibilities including correspondence, working with volunteers, basic office tasks, and other duties as required. Some travel and working irregular hours including weekends is occasionally required for this position. This is a hybrid position- both remote and in-person. Applicants must have reliable vehicle transportation. Business casual wardrobe is mandatory for in-office work.
Duties & Responsibilities:
• The staff attorney also works state-wide with domestic violence and sexual assault victims, law enforcement, as well as arraignment judges in Travis County to help victims of family violence understand their legal options after the batterer has been arrested, and when needed assists with processing MOEPs.
• The staff attorney is responsible for planning and implementing trainings to members of the judiciary, law enforcement, advocates, and others in order to expand our services and ensure best practices throughout Texas.
• Some travel and working irregular hours including weekends is occasionally required for this position.
• All staff assists in overall office responsibilities including correspondence, working with volunteers, and basic office tasks, and other duties as required.
Qualifications:
• Applicants must be able to assist callers with legal issues relating to all areas of civil law as it pertains to domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Able to provide information to clients in crisis and be able to help individuals in a compassionate and respectful manner.
• Applicants must also be able to provide pro se litigants with legal advice and limited representation in all matters relating to domestic violence and sexual assault and draft pleadings and related documents.
• Must be able to travel across the state and work some weekends.
• Applicants must have graduated from an accredited law school and be licensed to practice law in Texas.
• Knowledge of legal issues relating to domestic violence and/or sexual assault is required. Strong verbal and writing skills appreciated.
Strongly Preferred: At least one year of litigation experience in family, civil, and/or criminal law; working knowledge of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Texas Family Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, and Texas Penal Code. Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish preferred.
Compensation is commensurate with experience.
To Apply:
If interested, please send a cover letter and a detailed resume to [email protected]. Please type “Staff Attorney” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Open until the position is filled. Please indicate how you heard about the opening.
The Project and its Board of Directors supports the principles and spirit of equal opportunity based upon qualifications and related experience without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or medical condition as defined in federal and state laws. Current Project employees may apply for any position openings in which they have an interest.
Texas Advocacy Project is a smoke-free work environment.