JALA seeks a Florida-licensed attorney to provide high-quality civil legal services to eligible clients in the area of elder law. The attorney represents and advises seniors and families on matters involving advance directives, estate planning, probate, property transfers, Lady Bird deeds (enhanced life estate deeds), and heirs' property issues. The attorney is responsible for client representation, case management, community education, outreach, and collaboration with community partners to improve access to justice. This is a full-time position located in our downtown Jacksonville office.

What you get when you come to JALA

JALA is the premier litigation legal aid firm in the Southeastern United States. We are mission-driven, and our team makes a difference in our community. As a JALA employee, you can expect immediate hands-on experience interviewing and counseling clients as well as litigating cases in Federal and State court. Staff are expected to take on challenging cases for our at-risk clients while being mentored and supported in taking on such cases.

While there is a premium placed on initiative and self-motivation, you can expect to be supervised by lawyers who are recognized as subject matter experts in their field (JALA is the only law firm in Florida with two Florida Bar Consumer Protection Lawyers of the Year on staff, for example). Our lawyers and paralegals regularly serve on local and statewide committees, and our lawyers have gone on to become hearing officers, magistrates, judges, and administrative law judges.

In addition to the opportunity to litigate early, our lawyers and staff are trusted as professionals - we have adopted a hybrid work environment (although not all positions are able to work remotely). Regardless of what others may prefer, we embrace diversity and inclusion as a way to ensure we are the most prepared to offer the best and highest level of representation for clients, as this is what they deserve from us.

Salary/Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience. Sign-on bonus. Benefits package includes, but is not limited to, hybrid work model, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, group life insurance, 401(k) (match 100% of deferrals up to 6% of compensation), generous leave policy (13 paid holidays plus 22 personal leave days in first year, one-month sabbatical every four years), and membership in Access Perks, a private discount network.

All employees must clear Florida’s Level II background screening. Information on the background screening process can be found at https://info.flclearinghouse.com/.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace.

• Participate in client intake, eligibility screening, and case acceptance decisions.

• Maintain responsibility for a caseload from intake through resolution.

• Provide legal advice, counsel, and representation to eligible clients in elder law matters.

• Prepare and execute advance directives, including durable powers of attorney, health care surrogate designations, living wills, wills, and related documents.

• Draft, review, and record deeds, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, life estate deeds, and Lady Bird deeds.

• Represent and advise clients regarding heirs' property issues, title defects, ownership disputes, partition matters, probate-related title concerns, and quiet title actions.

• Conduct legal research and prepare correspondence, pleadings, motions, affidavits, and other legal documents.

• Appear before courts and administrative agencies, as necessary.

• Maintain accurate and timely case records in accordance with program requirements.

• Conduct community education presentations and legal clinics regarding elder law topics.

• Comply with all applicable ethical standards, grant obligations, and organizational policies.

• Participate in staff meetings, training programs, and professional development activities.

• Perform other duties and projects as needed to support JALA’s mission.

• Member in good standing of The Florida Bar.

• Civil trial practice experience in a law school clinical setting and/or a law firm.

• Prior experience in elder law, estate planning, probate, real property law, and/or related civil legal services is preferred.

• Strong written and oral advocacy, organizational skills, and attention to detail.

• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft applications.

The mission of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. is to provide high-quality legal assistance to low-income and special needs groups, to empower them to accomplish energetic and affirmative advocacy, all to alleviate the circumstances, incidents, and causes of poverty and discrimination.

Developed during the Great Depression and subsequent recession of 1937, the organization that has become Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. JALA was born when a group of Jacksonville Bar attorneys banded together to provide legal services to those in need.

Called different names over the years, including Duval County Legal Aid Association, it was officially named Jacksonville Area Legal Aid in 1973. The organization achieved 501(c)3 status in 1976. JALA now serves 17 counties of North Florida, including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.