Employment Opportunities at CLASI

POSITION TITLE: Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) Staff Attorney

START DATE: Rolling (law school graduates as well as current 3Ls are invited to apply)

SALARY: Commensurate with experience and CLASI’s collective bargaining agreement; excellent benefits. (Details on salary scale and benefits package can be found at the bottom of this page.)

REPORTS TO: Managing Attorneys, Supervising Attorneys

LOCATION: One of CLASI’s three Delaware offices (Wilmington, Dover, or Georgetown)

CONTEXT OF POSITION: CLASI anticipates adding multiple staff attorney positions throughout 2025. We are looking for candidates who have flexible interests and skills because grant funding, staff turnover, and organizational needs will require us to determine the program/unit assignment closer to the start date. We will guarantee geographic location at the time of offer.

ABOUT US: Founded in 1946, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) is Delaware’s oldest and largest civil legal aid organization and is one of the oldest civil legal aid programs in the United States. Our mission is to combat injustice through creative and persistent civil legal advocacy on behalf of vulnerable and underserved Delawareans. We have 80 staff members working in three offices across the state: Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown.

CLASI provides free legal representation to people with disabilities, people age 60 or over, people with low incomes, and victims of crime and discrimination to help our clients obtain shelter, government benefits, educational services, medical services, orders of protection from abuse, legal immigration status, and other civil legal remedies. We have the following units and programs:

• Disabilities Law Program (as Delaware’s designated Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities)
• Elder Law Program
• Family Representation Unit
• Medical-Legal Partnership Program
• Domestic Violence Unit
• Housing Unit
• Immigration Unit
• Public Benefits Unit

In addition to providing representation in individual cases, CLASI attorneys work for systemic change through impact litigation, community education, and legislative and policy advocacy on the state and national levels.

CLASI is a diverse, inclusive, collaborative workplace, and we are proud of our supportive, collegial work environment. Our passionate, mission-driven attorneys are experts in their fields. They are deeply committed to our clients and to mentoring the next generation of public interest attorneys. We provide extensive training and professional development opportunities to our staff.

We are a unionized program with a bargained salary scale. The entry-level salary is $75,000 for attorneys, scaled up based on prior relevant experience, with increases each year. We also offer a very competitive benefits package. (Please see the bottom of this page for more details.)

For those who need to take the Delaware Bar, we offer a unique bar exam preparation program providing 10 weeks of paid leave to study for exam. We also pay for all costs associated with applying, studying, and sitting for the bar (including the Bar/Bri review course) and with maintaining bar membership.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide direct legal services to clients and advocate on behalf of clients in court/litigation, administrative hearings, and various other venues.
2. Supervise paralegal(s).
3. Engage in community education.
4. Assist in drafting and analyzing legislation, regulations and policies.
5. Engage in impact/systemic litigation/advocacy.
6. Other duties as assigned depending on funding and needs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Admission to the Delaware bar preferred. If not admitted, admission to bar of another state preferred. If not admitted in Delaware, must be eligible to take the next scheduled Delaware Bar Examination and meet admission requirements including character and fitness.
2. Legal services/Protection & Advocacy system experience strongly preferred.
3. Interest in and knowledge of the legal issues affecting individuals with low incomes and with disabilities required.
4. Sensitivity to and experience with serving vulnerable populations required.
5. Two-year commitment required.
6. Good organizational skills and initiative, and interest in engaging a broad range of advocacy skills, including litigation, required.
7. Willingness and ability to perform some duties in health care settings (if necessary) required.
8. Must exhibit patience, tact, and respect when dealing with the public, clients, and staff.
9. Must be flexible since priorities and areas of emphasis may change depending on our funding and client needs.
10. Spanish or language other than English fluency/proficiency is helpful but not required.
11. COVID vaccination will be required.

CLASI values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, veterans, people who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, people who have experienced poverty or homelessness and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply. CLASI invites and encourages all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

TO APPLY: Please provide a cover letter explaining your interest in the position, a resume, a list of three professional references, and one brief writing sample (10 pages or less). Email your application materials to attorneyjobs@declasi.org.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

POSITION TITLE: Family Representation Unit Supervising Attorney – Full-time

LOCATION: Kent or Sussex County

REPORTS TO: Managing Attorney, Executive Director

SALARY: Commensurate with experience and collective bargaining agreement/salary scale, plus Supervising Attorney bump; excellent benefits. (Details on salary and benefits package can be found at the bottom of this page.)

DATE OF POSTING: September 23, 2024

DEADLINE: Open until filled

CONTEXT OF POSITION:
The Family Representation Unit Supervising Attorney in Kent or Sussex County will help launch a Family Representation Unit at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI). The Family Representation Unit will aim to ensure a fair and equitable child welfare system, by leading, administering, and supporting the effective delivery of multidisciplinary representation and services to indigent parents facing Division of Family Services intervention in the parent-child relationship, including dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights actions. Through zealous, creative, and persistent advocacy the Unit will protect, advocate, and advance the rights of parents facing the removal of their children by the Division of Family Services. The Supervising Attorney will handle a caseload and supervise other parent representation attorneys, and collaborate with/supervise social workers, peer mentors, and engage in systemic advocacy. The Supervising Attorney will report to a Managing Attorney for the Family Representation Unit and/or Executive Director of CLASI.

DUTIES:
1. In conjunction with Managing Attorney, coordinate and supervise legal work of Family Representation Unit staff.
2. In conjunction with Managing Attorney, oversee and provide support and supervision to staff in on-going casework and impact work, with a focus on representation of parents in dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights matters in Kent and Sussex Counties.
3. In conjunction with Managing Attorney, monitor caseloads and manage processing of cases to ensure quality representation.
4. Recruit and assess applicants for Family Representation Unit staff positions in collaboration with Managing Attorney and other staff.
5. Provide leadership in developing and monitoring program priorities and objectives.
6. Assist in developing and implementing training for new and existing staff.
7. Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney, the Supervising Attorney will represent clients throughout the state of Delaware but with a focus on their home county.
8. Develop creative legal strategies to best serve clients and train Unit staff in these strategies.
9. Represent CLASI on boards councils, and committees with overlapping constituents and advocacy interests, to the extent compatible with the efforts and goals of the Family Representation Unit.
10. In consultation with the Managing Attorney, engage in Systemic Advocacy including affirmative litigation as appropriate, legislative and administrative advocacy.
11. Create and present effective public trainings on topics relevant to parent representation, including presentations to peer advocates, social workers, and impacted parents / potential clients.
12. Work with Managing Attorney and Development Director/Development Staff in fulfilling grant reporting responsibilities, applying for new grants, developing new partnerships, and facilitating existing partnerships.
13. Remote work will be permitted to the extent that it is compatible with a heavy in-court docket, and supervision responsibilities.
14. Fulfill any other reasonably related program duties.

QUALIFICATIONS:
The following qualifications are required:
1. A demonstrated commitment to parents’ rights, indigent defense, and social justice issues.
2. Experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals and families experiencing state intervention in their lives and a willingness to challenge the state when it exists.
3. Experience and/or ability to provide representation with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental, and holistic advocacy throughout the case.
4. Delaware Bar Admission or eligible for Rule 55.
5. Minimum of three years’ experience as an attorney preferred, with significant experience in litigation required.
6. Experience in family law/parent defense/child welfare/family regulation matters preferred.
7. Supervision experience including supervision of legal staff and programs preferred.
8. Ability to communicate in a second language preferred.
9. Must be able and willing to travel statewide as needed to fulfill duties and provide meaningful supervision of Unit staff.

CLASI strongly encourages interested candidates with lived experience with marginalization and diverse backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people who identify as LGBTQ, veterans, people with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups. CLASI is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace. Candidates with experience in criminal defense, child welfare/family regulation, social work, and social justice advocacy are strongly encouraged to apply.

TO APPLY: Please email your cover letter and resume to Daniel Atkins, at datkins@declasi.org

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

POSITION TITLE: Family Representation Unit Staff Attorney – Full-time

START DATE: Rolling (law school graduates as well as current 3Ls are invited to apply)

LOCATION: Kent County (Dover), Sussex County (Georgetown), or New Castle County (Wilmington)

REPORTS TO: Supervising Attorney, Managing Attorney

SALARY: Commensurate with experience and collective bargaining agreement/salary scale; excellent benefits. (Details on salary and benefits package can be found at the bottom of this page.)

DATE OF POSTING: September 23, 2024

DEADLINE: Open until filled

CONTEXT OF POSITION:
The Family Representation Unit Staff Attorney will help launch a parent representation program at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI). The Family Representation Unit will aim to ensure a fair and equitable child welfare system, by leading, administering, and supporting the effective delivery of multidisciplinary counsel/representation and services to indigent parents facing child welfare intervention in the parent-child relationship, including dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights matters. Through zealous, creative, and persistent advocacy the Unit will protect, advocate, and advance the rights of parents facing the removal of their children by the Division of Family Services. The Staff Attorney will handle a caseload of 60-80 active open cases representing parents facing state intervention, including termination of parental rights. Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney and Supervising Attorney, the Staff Attorney will assist clients throughout the state of Delaware (but with a focus on their home County) and collaborate with/supervise social workers, peer mentors, and engage in systemic advocacy. The Staff Attorney will report to the Supervising Attorney and Managing Attorney for the Family Representation Unit.

DUTIES:
1. Handle a full caseload, 60-80 cases, of dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights cases.
2. Collaborate with/supervise and support social workers and parent peer mentors.
3. Develop legal strategies to best serve clients.
4. Provide direct representation in impact matters and co-counseling support to other attorneys as appropriate, with the understanding that a large portion of this position will be devoted to day-to-day representation of parents in child dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights matters.
5. Represent CLASI on boards councils, and committees with overlapping constituents and advocacy interests to the extent compatible with the efforts and goals of the Family Representation Unit.
6. Engage in Systemic Advocacy including affirmative litigation as appropriate, legislative and administrative advocacy, with the understanding that a large portion of this position will be devoted to day-to-day representation of parents in child dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights matters.
7. Create and present effective public trainings on topics relevant to parent representation, including presentations to peer advocates, social workers, and impacted parents / potential clients.
8. Remote work will be permitted as the attorney’s in-person litigation, preparation, supervision, and schedule allows.
9. Fulfill any other reasonably related program duties.

QUALIFICATIONS:
The following qualifications are required:
1. A demonstrated commitment to parents’ rights, indigent defense, and social justice issues.
2. Experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals and families experiencing state intervention in their lives and a willingness to challenge the state when it exists.
3. Experience and/or ability to provide representation with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental, and holistic advocacy throughout the case.
4. Delaware Bar Admission or eligible for Rule 55.
5. Strong interest in family court litigation and commitment to parents’ rights required.
6. Experience with or demonstrated interest in vulnerable populations required.
7. Ability to effectively communicate in a second language, preferably Spanish or Haitian Creole, strongly preferred.
8. Must be able and willing to travel across counties as needed and be prepared to handle cases in person in the Family Courts multiple times per week.

CLASI strongly encourages interested candidates with lived experience with marginalization and diverse backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people who identify as LGBTQ, veterans, people with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups. CLASI is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace. Candidates with experience in criminal defense, child welfare/family regulation, social work, and social justice advocacy are strongly encouraged to apply.

TO APPLY: Please email your cover letter and resume to Daniel Atkins, at datkins@declasi.org

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (“CLASI”) is recruiting testers to help investigate complaints of discrimination in the housing market here in Delaware. To do this, CLASI conducts testing for compliance with Fair Housing laws statewide. Testing is a controlled process wherein a tester will either call or visit a housing provider posing as an interested party. Testers will have to collect information that will be utilized to assist in investigations. CLASI uses these tests to determine if housing providers are discriminating against potential buyers/renters based on their race, color, familial status, disability, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Testers must attend a 2 to 3-hour training session. Following this training, the test coordinator will contact the Tester when a test is ready to be performed and ask if they are able to commit to conducting that test. If the Tester agrees, then the test coordinator will send all the information that they need to complete the test. CLASI relies on email for communication to notify testers, set up scenarios, and submit tests.

Testers are paid a stipend ($50 – $90) for each test that is conducted, and they are reimbursed for mileage, tolls, and postage. Testers are also paid $40 for completing their training.

Testers must:

– Be capable of following instructions, and of being impartial and observant;

– Have excellent writing skills and attention to detail;

– Be capable of submitting testing materials timely;

– Have reliable transportation;

– Have a telephone.

Testers must NOT:

– Be a licensed competitor of the person or organization to be tested in the listing, rental, sale, or financing of real estate;

– Have prior felony convictions or convictions of crimes involving fraud or perjury; per U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) regulations, CLASI must perform a criminal background check before approving an application.

TO APPLY:  If you are interested in applying to become a Fair Housing Tester, please contact CLASI’s Fair Housing Coordinator Kate Cirrito at kcirrito@declasi.org, or 302-647-7969.

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (“CLASI”) will sponsor candidates for post-graduate public interest attorney fellowships provided by the Skadden Foundation, Equal Justice Works, or other identified foundations.  A fellowship at CLASI provides recent law school graduates interested in a public interest law career the opportunity to work at a non-LSC funded legal services and Protection and Advocacy program.  Since its establishment in 1946, CLASI has remained the largest non-profit public interest law firm in Delaware.  More information about CLASI can be found at www.declasi.org.

CLASI will accept fellowship applications through July 5 each year. Interested candidates may wish to consult with us in advance regarding suggestions for viable proposals. We encourage interested candidates with diverse cultural backgrounds and/or oral proficiency in languages other than English to contact us.  Interested candidates should submit the following electronically:

• Resume
• Cover letter addressing their interest and experience in public interest work and poverty/disability/elder law and describing any ideas for a fellowship proposal.
• Although we ask that you describe any ideas you have regarding a fellowship proposal, please note that it is not necessary to have a proposal at this stage of the application process.
• One or two brief legal writing samples
• Law school transcript
• List of three references
• A list of any other organizations with whom you are pursuing fellowship opportunities.

These materials should be sent via email to the attention of Daniel Atkins, CLASI Executive Director, at datkins@declasi.org. Candidates may address any questions about the application process to Daniel Atkins: (302) 575-0660, ext. 229 or datkins@declasi.org.

Please note that CLASI may sponsor more than one individual for each fellowship opportunity and that fellowship awards are not guarantees of employment with CLASI once the fellowship expires.