Staff Attorney

Job Title: Staff Attorney

Department: Legal Advocacy & Immigration Legal Services

Reports To: Legal Advocacy & Immigration Sr Director

Position Status: Temporary, Part-Time (16-20 hour per workweek); Non-Exempt

Location: Cambridge, MA (hybrid: minimum one day in office)

Work Schedule: 16 - 20 hours per week

Salary range: $48 - $55 per hour

Application deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

BARCC Overview

Founded in 1973, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is the oldest and largest rape crisis center in New England, serving as the only comprehensive center for survivors of sexual violence in the Greater Boston Area. BARCC’s mission is to end sexual violence through healing, empowerment, and social change. BARCC empowers survivors of sexual violence to help find healing and seek justice in ways that are meaningful to them and works to provide education and advocacy needed to create social change and prevent sexual violence. We rely on our dedicated staff to do this important work, and our legal team is growing!

Position Overview

Your work will directly further BARCC’s mission of ending sexual violence through healing, empowerment, and social change. As part of the Legal Advocacy Program, under the protection of the attorney client privilege, provide confidential, legal information, advocacy, support, and advice to clients about rights and options related to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking. Provide referrals for other legal services as needed.

Please note, this is a temporary position, with an intended nine month duration.

Work Environment

BARCC's staff, operations, hours, and location vary by function, type of work, and work style. This is a part-time position, with flexible hours. Set hours will be determined in collaboration with BARCC and the Staff Attorney, and will be scheduled during standard office operating hours. The role will be in a hybrid schedule, with a minimum of one day on-site.

Key Responsibilities

Direct client work

• Provide information, support, advocacy, and advice to clients under the protection of an attorney client relationship.
• Respond to needs identified by the client and also assess for other options or informational need areas.
• Provide services that are trauma-informed, reflect cultural humility, and utilize the empowerment model.
• Provide warm referrals as needed.
• Provide information, advocacy, and advice in service areas, including privacy, safety, criminal legal systems, educational and employment systems, disability rights, immigration rights and screening for civil, family law, civil rights or immigration remedies.
• Maintain client records.

Programmatic duties

• Participate in weekly Legal Advocacy Team meetings.
• Document all client interactions in the electronic filing system to ensure appropriate data collection.

Internal collaboration work:

• Contribute to client consultations and programmatic procedures for the Legal Advocacy Program and Client Services team and actively contribute to the BARCC community and mission.
• Assist with providing accessible information to clients regarding legal rights and processes.
• Engage in building a BARCC community of inclusion and equity, build collaborative relationships, foster personal and agency wide resilience, access and provide vicarious trauma support, actively contribute to DEI internally and externally, and support sustainability and innovation in accordance with BARCC’s mission.

P
The role may involve remaining in a stationary position for periods of time during client calls, meetings, court proceedings and general role accountabilities.

• This role generally requires the ability to communicate with clients and colleagues, use a computer, phone and other office equipment.
• The ability to move around an office or court environment.
• Ability to travel to off site locations including but not limited to our Cambridge and Waltham offices as well as local courts.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and current Massachusetts Bar License (required).
• 2 years of experience providing direct service in a legal capacity to clients and experience in sexual violence field (required, law school internships may qualify).
• Demonstrated commitment to trauma informed, survivor centered, and culturally responsive practice.
• Demonstrated understanding of intersectionality of oppressions and personal privilege.
• Attention to detail, ability to multitask, excellent communication skills, and comfort working with a computer database.
• Demonstrated commitment to BARCC’s mission and philosophy.
• Significant phone time - comfortable communicating over the phone.
• Ability to provide accompaniments, as needed.
• Ability to verbally communicate and simplify complex legal concepts for diverse groups, including clients, providers, colleagues, and external partners.

Benefits and incentives:

Please note that due to the temporary nature of this role, it is not eligible for BARCC’s full benefits. This position will accrue sick time, in accordance with Massachusetts legal requirements.

Hiring process and timeline

Please submit a resume, a cover letter describing your interest in survivor-centered legal work. No phone calls, please. The full hiring process will include a phone-screen interview, and an interview with the legal advocacy team. Reasonable accommodation is provided upon request.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of any background checks required by applicable law, regulation, contract, or funding requirement. Information obtained through a background check will be considered in accordance with applicable law and BARCC policy, including an individualized assessment where required.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. We strongly encourage applications from members of communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession.

Physical Requirements

• The role may involve remaining in a stationary position for periods of time during client calls, meetings, court proceedings and general role accountabilities.
• This role generally requires the ability to communicate with clients and colleagues, use a computer, phone and other office equipment.
• The ability to move around an office or court environment.
• Ability to travel to off site locations including but not limited to our Cambridge and Waltham offices as well as local courts.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and current Massachusetts Bar License (required).
• 2 years of experience providing direct service in a legal capacity to clients and experience in sexual violence field (required, law school internships may qualify).
• Demonstrated commitment to trauma informed, survivor centered, and culturally responsive practice.
• Demonstrated understanding of intersectionality of oppressions and personal privilege.
• Attention to detail, ability to multitask, excellent communication skills, and comfort working with a computer database.
• Demonstrated commitment to BARCC’s mission and philosophy.
• Significant phone time - comfortable communicating over the phone.
• Ability to provide accompaniments, as needed.
• Ability to verbally communicate and simplify complex legal concepts for diverse groups, including clients, providers, colleagues, and external partners.

Benefits and incentives:Please note that due to the temporary nature of this role, it is not eligible for BARCC’s full benefits. This position will accrue sick time, in accordance with Massachusetts legal requirements.

Hiring process and timelinePlease submit a resume, a cover letter describing your interest in survivor-centered legal work. No phone calls, please. The full hiring process will include a phone-screen interview, and an interview with the legal advocacy team. Reasonable accommodation is provided upon request.
Employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of any background checks required by applicable law, regulation, contract, or funding requirement. Information obtained through a background check will be considered in accordance with applicable law and BARCC policy, including an individualized assessment where required.
We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. We strongly encourage applications from members of communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession.