Community Justice Worker

The Community Justice Worker (CJW) is responsible for working alongside attorneys to provide legal information, advice, and brief services to clients with problems in the areas of law for which they are trained, which will include public benefits and may include housing, domestic violence, or debt collection. The position is part of MLSA’s Montana Health Justice Partnership (MHJP).  MHJP partners with the Montana Primary Care Association and community health providers to address the health-harming civil legal needs of patients whose health solutions lay outside the boundaries of medicine. The CJW will be part of a nationwide, community-driven movement to increase access to justice and legal assistance for low-income clients by interviewing/screening applicants and prospective clients for service, drafting documents, routine pleadings, and correspondence, performing basic legal and factual research, coordinating community education about legal topics, and other duties as assigned. 

Key Responsibilities

• Work with attorneys to provide legal advice and brief services to clients who are facing civil legal issues.
• Draft documents, routine pleadings, and correspondence for clients.
• Perform basic legal and factual research.
• Represent clients in administrative proceedings and court hearings as permitted.
• Respectfully interview potential applicants for legal services who may be under stress of legal action, elicit factual information from applicants, analyze the type of legal problem presented to determine whether MLSA may assist, or whether a referral is appropriate, and evaluate legal need and financial eligibility of the applicant.
• Conduct client intake in accordance with applicable regulations and priorities.

• Determine the legal needs and financial eligibility of the applicant for program services.
• Accurately enter data and scan and upload documents into MLSA’s case management system.
• Input data from on-line or paper applications.
• Mail correspondence, civil legal education and other literature to individuals.

• Coordinate community education about legal topics, including independent presentations and provide assistance with legal clinics.

• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor, Supervising Attorney, or Director of Advocacy.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree: equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated commitment to access to justice, community-based advocacy, or the high-quality delivery of legal services.

• Strong legal research, writing, and advocacy skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners including courts, tribal communities, advocacy organizations, and legal professionals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working collaboratively and empathetically with diverse groups of colleagues and clients who have varying cultural backgrounds, perspectives, experience, and expertise.

• Commitment to serving low-income, rural, and underserved populations insuring equal access to justice.

• Comfort with data tracking, reporting, and documentation.
• Ability to travel in and out of state, occasionally overnight.

Preferred

• Experience in legal services, court systems, or victim advocacy.
• An understanding of the civil legal needs of low-income people, including the unique needs of populations that experience barriers to access to justice systems, and of effective approaches and methods for addressing those needs.
• Familiarity with public benefits in Montana.
• Familiarity with Montana Justice and City Court procedures.
• Experience with grant-funded program reporting and management.
• Understanding of professional conduct rules or legal ethics (training provided).

Competencies

• Commitment to trauma-informed practice.

• Ability and willingness to work cooperatively and collegially with multiple timelines within a decentralized statewide law firm.

• High attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
• Skilled interpersonal communicator able to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Respect for confidentiality and strong ethical judgment.
• Adaptability in an innovative pilot program setting.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment with travel required, including to rural and tribal communities.
• Primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment, requiring regular computer use and the ability to alternate between sitting and standing at a workstation for most of the workday.
• Occasional evening or weekend training sessions.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.