Contract Attorney

Reports to: Legal Programs Director

Works with: Legal Services Team, Community Advocacy & Outreach Team

Location: Remote but must live in the State of Washington

FLSA/Classification: Independent Contractor

Pay: $2,000 - $2,350 a month depending on experience and actual hours worked

Overview: QLaw Foundation of Washington promotes the dignity and respect of 2SLGBTQIA+ Washingtonians within the legal system through advocacy, education, and legal assistance. QLaw Foundation provides direct services and systemic advocacy centered around the core value that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are entitled to access to knowledgeable, culturally competent legal providers in a welcoming and affirming setting, while working together to engage community power toward long-term change. QLaw Foundation also works to empower 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through providing skills-based community legal education, know-your-rights materials, and providing spaces for communities and legal services providers to build relationships, share knowledge, and organize together.

For more information, please review our website at www.qlawfoundation.org.

Position Summary: QLaw Foundation of Washington is seeking a dedicated and community-minded attorney to join our team as a Contract Attorney. This role will provide support to QLaw Foundation leadership in the delivery of quality legal services, systemic advocacy and impact litigation.

Core Responsibilities:

• Consult with the Legal Programs Director to maintain ethics and malpractice compliance for all legal programs and direct representation.
• Support and advise the Legal Programs Director in the supervision and training of volunteer attorneys.
• Inform strategic planning to achieve identified organizational goals in the areas of legislative advocacy, impact litigation and legal programming.
• Work with the Community Advocacy and Outreach Director to review legislative statutes and initiatives, identify areas of concern and make recommendations around strategic advocacy.
• Identify and collaborate with co-counsel on direct representation and/or impact litigation.
• Keep bar license in good standing.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• JD or equivalent and Washington State Bar Association License.
• Two or more years of experience as an attorney, or comparable non-attorney experience serving low-income clients in a legal aid or public interest setting.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas of law preferred: civil rights, tort, discrimination, or other applicable civil litigation.
• Any combination of education, experience and measurable performance which demonstrates the capability to perform the duties of this position.

A successful QLaw Foundation Contract Attorney will spend approximately 80% of their time engaged in compliance supervision, 20% of their time on representation.

Required Skills and Attributes:

• Ability to commit to working up to approximately 40 hours a month with reliable access to the internet, a computer, and a phone.
• Experience tracking emerging federal executive orders, administrative rules, and statutes, and developing case theories to support the continued equality of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities under the law.
• Intermediate-level knowledge to advise and represent clients in the areas of constitutional law, torts, anti-discrimination, protections, health care law, and local civil rules and procedures related to family law and identity documents.
• Maintain a working knowledge of policies and practices of local and state civil rights agencies.
• Ability to develop and implement litigation and advocacy strategies.
• Database and records management skills.
• Excellent critical thinking and evaluation skills.
• Trained or willing to self-train in using Zoom, Microsoft 365 including Teams, SharePoint, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating within QLaw Foundation’s organizational strategies and values.
• Commitment to client-centered legal and sometimes non-traditional alternative legal services.
• Ability to take leadership and direction from non-lawyer staff and community organizers.
• A willingness to learn and develop knowledge in areas where there is a lack of practice experience
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Commitment to supporting QLaw Foundation’s mission, vision, and values.

Preferred Skills and Attributes:

• Bilingual or multilingual applicants strongly preferred.
• Lived 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and/or very close relationship with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities strongly preferred.
• Experience with community organizing and movement-building in BIPOC, rural, and/or undocumented 2SLGBTQIA+ spaces strongly preferred.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions:This position works 100% of the time on the computer, with approximately 20% of that time in virtual meetings. Occasional in-person engagements may be required, within appropriate COVID safety protocols. We welcome information about any needed workplace accommodations or other necessary supports.

Hours/Compensation: This is an independent contractor position with up to an estimated 40 hours of work per month to be paid in monthly increments of $2,000 - $2350 (depending on experience). The organization work hours and meetings are typically between 10am-6pm, Monday-Friday.

Organization Culture: Our organization is friendly, inclusive, and centers clients and community relationships.QLaw Foundation welcomes applicants who lives outside of Seattle/Puget Sound region, are queer and trans, Black, Indigenous, or people of color (QTPOC/BIPOC), immigrants, parents, disabled, or otherwise marginalized, and welcomes applicants with personal experience of the legal system.