Access to Justice Coordinator:
The Economic Justice Institute, Inc., a Wisconsin-based non-profit that houses LIFT Wisconsin, (LegalInterventions for Transforming Wisconsin), is committed to improving access to justice for low-incomeWisconsinites through innovation and systems change. The project advances policies that create more equitable outcomes, and uses technology to streamline the resolution of common legal issues.Together these activities seek to disrupt the often complex, overwhelming and inaccessible civil legal system that prevents a disproportionate number of low-income and BIPOC individuals from attaining economic stability. LIFT seeks to accomplish this mission by focusing on four objectives: 1) promoting and training on its free web based legaltuneup.org tool, to assist individuals, social service providers, librarians, attorneys and others to navigate common legal barriers to economic stability, including clearing eviction and criminal records, as well as reinstating driver’s licenses, adjusting child support orders and addressing consumer debt; 2) educate and advocate on the need to improve access to justice; 3) in partnership, coordinate county and regional based pop-up legal clinics to serve more complex individual needs, and; 4) develop a comprehensive network of place-based referrals for employment, health advocacy and resources to support under-resourced families.
LIFT aspires for statewide reach and is poised to be a regional leader in promoting access to justice asa key component to achieving increased economic and racial justice through innovation, collaboration and education.
We are hiring a full-time position to focus on coordinating legal services and outreach to low-income individuals across Wisconsin. The position will involve leading community-based programming for LIFTWisconsin including education and training of community service providers as navigators, coordinating the legal services at pop-up clinics through recruitment of volunteers (with our partner organization Legal Action) and engaging in constant quality improvement and evaluation.
LIFT is seeking an individual committed to social, racial and economic justice who is interested inmaking an impact by increasing access to civil legal justice. Our vision for how to increase access tojustice includes interconnected, high impact, activities: the education of impacted populations throughfree and accessible resources to increase agency over their own publicly available data; the creation ofa cadre of “legal navigators” able to assist those working to remove barriers to their economic success,and; the engagement with policy makers who can effect change by advocating for systemic change.Consequently, the Civil Legal Justice Access Coordinator will be able to develop accessible, comprehensive and engaging training materials, supplements and resources that reflect a strong understanding of the areas of civil legal access that LIFT works in, and conduct these trainings for service providers and community based organizations on the Legal Tune Up tool. We believe change isa product of collaboration with partner organizations and individuals in order to collectively capitalize oneach others expertise and positionality. Thus, the coordinator is entrusted to build strong relationships with organizations, coordinate numerous different partners and entities, and work with individuals with patience, compassion, and a justice/liberation mindset.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Training and Education
● Oversee and manage creation and updating of training materials, including on-demand video training, flyers, and other digital material; plan and implement trainings for helpers (lawyers and non-lawyers)
● Recruit, train, and/or coordinate training of community service providers, human resources personnel, students, and volunteers about legal rights and basic processes, including use of the Legal Tune Up tool. Trainings can be in-person or video meeting i.e. Zoom, Google Meet.
● Develop associated educational materials in lay language for users of the LegalTuneUp.org tool
● Travel to in-person trainings around Wisconsin and use webinar technology.
Program Development & Quality Assurance
● Participate in and contribute to LIFT Wisconsin’s overall program planning and implementationAssist Executive Director in development and implementation of policy and advocacy goals
● Provide feedback on tool performance to technology vendor
● Work closely with LIFT’s Outreach Coordinator to maintain an internal database of presentations,trainees, pop-up attendees and subsequent wrap-around services to measure outcomes.
● Track services, client income, client demographics and other requirements of funders
Coordinate and recruit for Pop-Up legal clinics
● Strategically staff identified community, technical college, and employer-based service events to maximize reach of tool and wrap-around legal support.
● Work with LIFT Wisconsin partner organizations to develop and implement volunteer services (of probono attorneys, paralegals, and students) to further the project’s goals. This includes recruiting, training, supporting, and coordinating with these groups to incorporate LIFT Wisconsin’s Legal Tune Up tool into existing practice, and to participate at pop-up events
o Coordinate with student supervisors at the local technical colleges and the UW Law School toensure student involvement
o Coordinate with legal service, technical colleges, employment providers, and law school clinics to provide wrap-around services
● Provide technical assistance to organizations and volunteer attorneys
Administration/Other Duties as Assigned
● Participate in bi-weekly staff meetings
● Engage in professional development
● As a project of a small non-profit, this position may require a other minor additional duties
Qualifications:
Required:
● Legal background: J.D., LLM, Paralegal, or other demonstration of legal education experience
● Minimum of two years legal, social work or teaching /training experience
● Strong communication skills including to engage key stakeholders, clients, and pro bono attorneys with a demonstrated ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively
● Ability to manage a high volume, fast-paced project
● Ability to prioritize and organize resources while maintaining quality and attention to detail
● Possess a valid driver’s license and maintain it throughout employment
● Self-motivated, diligent, and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure
● Commitment to inclusion of all, including clients’ and our staffs’ race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances;
Preferred
● Experience creating training materials and leading trainings, or a willingness to learn
● Self-motivated, diligent, and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure
● Fluency in a language other than English and cultural affinity for the client community that speaks that language is highly desired
SALARY:
The salary range for the position is $55,000-$70,000 and includes full benefits and will be based on qualifications and relevant work experience.
WORK HOURS:
This position is a professional salaried position requiring community-based services that will include some evenings and weekends.
TRAVEL:
Travel around the state of Wisconsin will be required.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and INCLUSION: We value a diverse staff and work environment. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people who identify asLGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, women, and people with life experiences or education that add to our diversity, perspectives and approach as well as our capacity to provide high-quality services that transform systems to better meet the needs of families and communities.
HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants should send the following documents to admin@liftwisconsin.org:
Submit a cover letter, summarizing interest in the position, qualifications and the ways in which your unique background either personally or professionally will contribute to the organization and its mission and a resume.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
