Website and Client Ed Staff Attorney

Overview

Pine Tree Legal Assistance has an immediate opening for a full-time Website and Client Ed Staff Attorney in its Access to Justice unit. This position, which can be housed in any of Pine Tree Legal's 6 statewide offices, is primarily responsible for the content management of two of Pine Tree's three legal education websites, KIDSLegal.org, and PTLA.org. Utilizing both legal and technology skills, the work of the Website and Client Education Staff Attorney, is crucial to expanding access to justice in Maine and significantly contributes to efforts to decrease the justice gap.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is Maine’s oldest and largest civil legal aid provider. Our mission is to ensure that state and federal laws affecting poor people are upheld, while also addressing the systemic barriers to justice faced by Mainers with low incomes. To achieve our mission, we provide free civil legal assistance to fellow Mainers; to make a difference in one’s ability to meet one’s basic human needs, or in enforcing one’s basic human rights.

The Website and Client Ed Staff Attorney creates and maintains legal information and legal tools that utilize current and emerging technology to amplify and support the impact of the direct representation, advice, and advocacy roles performed by other staff, primarily through two of Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s three websites, PTLA.org and KIDSLEGAL.org. The Website and Client Education Staff Attorney is a member of Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s Access to Justice Unit and works in conjunction with the Client Education Coordinator, Veterans Unit Managing Attorney (who manages Stateside Legal.org)

and the Director of Access and Training to maintain and improve Pine Tree’s websites and other client-focused technology to educate and empower clients and the public to be able to approach their civil legal problems, with or without a lawyer.

• Knowledge or ability to learn Drupal to help maintain and improve the function of PTLA.org and KIDSLEGAL.org including cleanup, updates, testing, and monitoring;
• Knowledge or the ability to learn Doc Assemble and other current and emerging technology to maintain and develop high quality client education tools;
• Knowledge of Google Analytics;
• Knowledge of website and other accessibility best practices to ensure accessibility to all websites and tools for people with disabilities;
• Ability to write in plain language and explain complicated legal concepts in easy-to-read materials;
• Knowledge of language access tools and approaches and the ability to address the language needs of Pine Tree’s client populations;
• Knowledge or the ability to learn about legal issues facing Pine Tree Legal’s target client populations and think creatively about ways to address the legal issues through technology;
• Ability to think creatively and develop new legal information and legal tools;
• Ability to connect and work collaboratively with the national legal aid technology community and local legal aid organizations;
• Ability to work collaboratively with Pine Tree Legal staff on website and client education tool projects;
• Ability to work collaboratively with outside vendors, like Pine Tree Legal’s contracted developers;
• Manage time and priorities in an effective manner; and Share responsibility for general office needs including mail, answering the door, facilities issues, and other needs that may arise.

• Juris Doctor and licensed to practice law in Maine, or eligible under MRCP 11 (c);
• Positive outlook and approach to the work;
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy;
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with particular attention to clarity, tone, and audience;
• High level of organization with excellent time management skills;
• Skilled at prioritizing work effectively and able to handle multiple competing responsibilities;
• Familiarity with Drupal, Doc Assemble, Microsoft Office products, Canva (or other design software), and willingness to learn new technology as products emerge;
• Desire to contribute to and maintain Pine Tree’s high standards for excellence;
• Ability to work cooperatively and establish positive working relationships with community…