Family Law Support Attorney

Description of Program

The Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP) is a statewide legal resource program located in Ypsilanti. MPLP provides state support services to local legal services programs and other poverty law advocates. Our goals are to support the advocacy of civil legal aid programs; to coordinate advocacy for low-income individuals and families in Michigan; to assure that a full range of advocacy continues on behalf of the poor; and to lead policy and systemic advocacy and litigation efforts in Michigan on behalf of low-income families and vulnerable populations. We work directly with local advocates by providing open access to case consultation, co-counseling, or referrals for current clients, and trainings.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and lead legislative and administrative advocacy and litigation strategies in family law
• Identify ways in which to challenge racialized systems and practices
• Provide legal and technical support to legislators, policymakers, community organizations, legal services attorneys, and other poverty law advocates on family law issues
• Help build, lead, and collaborate with coalitions of community and grassroots organizations
• Lead and coordinate coalitions and advisory groups statewide around family law issues in collaboration with advocacy partners
• Engage in impact litigation and appellate work
• Support legal services attorneys, poverty law advocates and pro bono attorneys through research, case consultation, litigation support, and co-counseling cases
• Offer trainings to legal aid advocates and other poverty advocates
• Lead quarterly statewide family law task force meetings
• Lead teams on specific advocacy projects, and produce community legal education materials on family law

Benefits

• This is a full-time position with a salary starting at $72,520 based on years of relevant 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 15 paid holidays, as well as a 401K retirement plan including employer match for eligible staff after 6 months of employment.
• MAP is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.