Equal Justice Works Fellowship
The Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee is a 110-year-old Milwaukee institution with an enduring reputation for providing top notch free civil legal services to income-eligible Milwaukee County residents. Our mission is to provide equal access to legal representation to advance a more just Milwaukee. If you are interested in a legal career that makes a real difference, then Legal Aid is for you.
Job Summary: Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee seeks diverse and dynamic applicants for two 24-month, full-time attorney positions at Legal Aid as an Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Financial Empowerment Project.
Equal Justice Works is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. The Equal Justice Works Financial Empowerment Project is a pilot initiative that embeds attorney Fellows with Financial Empowerment Centers to protect and transfer generational wealth through both financial and legal guidance. An Equal Justice Works Fellowship is an opportunity to transform your passion for equal justice into a career. The primary focus of this role will be prevention and remediation of estate planning issues and asset preservation, both through client representation and community outreach.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
• Provide direct legal services to Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) clients in the areas of estate planning and asset preservation, including but not limited to resolving fines and fees, title clearing, and addressing heirs’ property issues.
• Develop and conduct training and outreach initiatives for Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) clients, including workshops and clinics developed in partnership with local FECs and community-based organizations.
• Participate in collaborative learning and professional development through active engagement with the Equal Justice Works Financial Empowerment Project cohort. This includes contributing to resource exchanges, attending mandatory webinars and conference calls, and participating in training events such as the Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training.
• Contribute to required programmatic reporting and overall program evaluation.
• Maintain and grow close partnership and collaboration with existing Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) partner, Riverworks Financials, around advocacy, education and resource development as required
• Conduct legal research as required
• Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin
• Resourceful, unflappable approach to challenges
• Passion for social justice and commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required
Benefits: Legal Aid offers a competitive salary based on experience and comparable to similar organizations in the Milwaukee area. We offer a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision and life insurance, paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), paid parental leave, and a hybrid remote work schedule (after probationary period). Legal Aid recognizes the importance of work-life balance.
TO APPLY: Send a cover letter, resume, 3 professional references to:
Caitlin Martin, Human Resources Manager
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee 728 N. James Lovell Street Milwaukee, WI 53233
Email: cmartin@legalaidmke.com; Subject line: Equal Justice Works Fellowship
Screening Requirements: Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check. All results are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will be considered only if there is a substantial relationship to the responsibilities of the position, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
LEGAL AID IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS RECEIVE CONSIDERATION FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, CITIZENSHIP STATUS, RELIGION, AGE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, MARITAL STATUS, DISABILITY, MILITARY STATUS AND ANY OTHER CHARACTERISTIC PROTECTED BY LAW.