Pro Bono Attorney

Summary

The Pro Bono Attorney will be responsible for providing representation in Jackson County Family Court appointments assigned to Stinson attorneys located in the Kansas City office and licensed to practice in Missouri.

Reporting to and working with Pro Bono Counsel, the Pro Bono Attorney will recruit and supervise any Kansas City attorneys who express interest and have capacity to engage in Family Court pro bono work.

Required Education & Experience

• J.D. required.
• Active Missouri law license.
• Three (3) years' experience in the private, governmental, or public interest sector representing vulnerable persons in administrative/judicial proceedings.
• Solid understanding of the practice of law and excellent litigation skills.
• A proven ability to manage a significant caseload, maintain calendaring and docketing system due to high volume of cases and statutory time frames, and function independently.
• A proven ability to stay informed of and apply evolving legislation and standards of best practices specific to an area of practice.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Westlaw and Lexis Research.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Experience in pro bono, non-profit or government service preferred.
• Law Firm experience preferred.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Pro Bono Practice (90%)
  • Provide representation to the following clients appointed to Stinson attorneys by the Jackson County Family Court:
    1. Parents in Abuse and Neglect and/or Termination of Parental Rights proceedings.
    2. Juveniles in Delinquency/Behavior Injurious to the Welfare of the Minor and/or Certification Hearings to determine whether the juvenile should be transferred to a court of general jurisdiction for treatment as an adult.
    3. Minor child as Guardian ad Litem.
    4. Parent as Guardian ad Litem.
    5. Other parties in Abuse and Neglect proceedings.

• • Assist in pro bono opening process for all new Jackson County Family Court appointments.
  • Identify potential risk management issues related to Jackson County Family Court appointments assigned to Stinson. Elevate to Pro Bono Counsel and consult with Firm Counsel when appropriate.
  • Maintain 80 to 160 open and active cases per year, ensuring proper case management and timely resolution. Representation will continue until one of the following occurs:
    1. Child is released from jurisdiction of the court.
    2. Parent's(s') rights are terminated in a separate proceeding.
    3. Attorney is allowed to withdraw.
  • Oversee administrative staff who support Stinson's Jackson County Family Court appointment pro bono work.
  • Monitor expenditures to the Pro Bono Department budget incurred in Family Court matters.
  • Maintain accurate time records logged to appropriate pro bono client-matter number or administrative number and submit weekly time sheets.

• Pro Bono Management (5%)
  • Supervise attorneys who choose to engage in pro bono representation in Stinson's Jackson County Family Court appointed cases.
  • Organize or provide access to initial and periodic substantive legal training and updates to support volunteer attorneys engaging in Family Court pro bono work.
  • Develop and maintain substantive resource materials to support volunteer attorneys engaging in Family Court pro bono work.
  • Consult with volunteer attorneys engaging in Family Court pro bono work on issues of case strategy.
  • Provide mentorship, support, and supervision as needed on related pro bono matters undertaken by the firm, including but not limited to, answering questions from volunteer attorneys with guardianship cases before the Jackson County Probate Division or who are participating in the Jackson County CASA Pro Bono Program.
  • Work with volunteer attorneys engaging in Family Court pro bono work to cover the Pro Bono Attorney's planned PTO that may impact attendance at scheduled court dates or ability to meet case deadlines.
  • Work with volunteer attorneys engaging in Family Court pro bono work to cover their planned PTO that may impact their attendance at scheduled court dates or ability to meet case deadlines.
  • Track departures of volunteer attorneys engaging in Family Court pro bono work to ensure appropriate re-staffing or transfer of pro bono matters in compliance with applicable rules of professional responsibility.
  • Work with the Pro Bono Department to recognize outstanding pro bono volunteers engaging in Family Court practice.
  • As needed, attend conferences and meetings relevant to the Firm's Family Court pro bono representation.
  • Work with other members of the Pro Bono team to highlight the firm's pro bono work both internally and externally.
  • Work with Pro Bono Counsel on other pro bono initiatives as assigned.
• General and Administrative (5%)
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Highly professional with a strong customer service orientation, commitment to meeting deadlines, and ability to multitask in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Strong professional, independent thinking skills with strength in problem solving and the ability to offer constructive opinions and creative solutions.
• A team player who motivates and educates other team members.
• Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the position.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Travel

Travel to community legal sites may be required.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. While performing the responsibilities of the position, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the person in this position will encounter. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work in a professional, fast paced office environment that may require additional hours to complete work.

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. If an employee is unable to perform the essential functions of the position, Stinson LLP will evaluate whether a reasonable accommodation can be made to enable the employee to perform the described essential functions of the position. Generally, due to the nature of this office position, while performing the responsibilities of the position, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Vision abilities required by the job include close vision.

AAP/EEO Statement

Stinson LLP is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran, disabled and other diverse candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Stinson LLP is a federal contractor. Information gathered through applicant Voluntary Self-Identification will be used periodically with various government agencies for statistical reporting and to measure the effectiveness of our Affirmative Action and EEO outreach efforts. All information is requested on a voluntary basis and will be kept confidential. We will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the Stinson LLP application process should contact Human Resources at 316.268.7962 or email Talent@stinson.com.

By submitting this application, you certify the information provided is true to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that being untruthful in response to any of the answers provided within this application or any of the attached documents may lead to your termination in the event you are employed. If employed, you will be required to provide documentation showing you are legally authorized to work in the United States. We conduct criminal background checks of all individuals offered employment.