POSITION: Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM), a nonprofit law firm that provides civil legal assistance to low income residents, is seeking a full-time Legal Assistant for its Washtenaw office, serving Washtenaw county. Primary responsibilities of the legal assistant include interviewing clients, reception, client database management, general clerical work, and administrative support of the legal work of the office.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: LSSCM is a division of the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP). MAP works to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions. MAP has provided civil legal aid for those unable to afford an attorney for more than 50 years. Today, MAP’s Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) has five legal aid offices in south and central Michigan serving 13 counties with an emphasis on homelessness prevention, domestic violence and elder abuse prevention, and assistance in accessing health care, food, and needs-based income programs. In addition to LSSCM, MAP manages six statewide programs serving immigrant communities (Michigan Immigrant Rights Center), vulnerable older adults (Michigan Elder Justice Initiative), victims of domestic violence and elder abuse (Crime Victims Legal Assistance Program), migrant and seasonal farmworkers (Farmworker Legal Services), providing research and training support to all legal aid advocates (Michigan Poverty Law Program), and providing access to legal information to self-represented litigants (Michigan Legal Help Program). MAP has a staff of about 200 people in offices in Battle Creek, Detroit, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Monroe, and Ypsilanti. Visit lsscm.org and miadvocacy.org for more information.

QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will be comfortable with and skilled at communicating with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Some college is preferred, and we will also consider equivalent professional and/or life experience. Candidate must be detail-oriented with strong organizational, time-management, and computer skills. Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income and underserved communities, and who display the patience, empathy, and sensitivity necessary for this work.

BENEFITS: Salary starting at $43,330 depending on experience. MAP offers a generous benefits package including life, short and long term disability, health, vision, dental and flexible spending accounts. If an applicant does not require health benefits, they have the option to take an annual $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary paid over the course of the year. MAP also has a generous leave policy allowing staff to accrue 3 weeks paid vacation the first year and 13 paid holidays, as well as an annual 2% contribution and 2% match to retirement plan subject to board approval for eligible staff. MAP is a unionized program.

TO APPLY:

Submit your resume and cover letter by email with “Legal Assistant” in the subject line to jobs@lsscm.org. The position is open until filled; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Michigan Advocacy Program is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.