Staff Attorney - LHT (Legal Hotline for Texans)

Position Summary:

The staff attorney at the Legal Hotline for Texans is responsible for providing legal advice over the telephone on a variety of legal issues to persons sixty years of age or older and persons under 60 who receive Medicare.

This attorney in this position is expected to:

Maintain the highest ethical and professional standards as a member of the State Bar; adhere to the American Bar Association Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid; embrace and support TLSC’s overall mission; and comply with all grant requirements, regulations, standards, policies, and confidentiality requirements.

This is a grant funded position.

Essential Functions:

• Provide high quality legal advice and assistance primarily over the telephone to eligible clients and client organizations on a variety of legal subjects, such as Medicare, Medicaid, public benefits, and housing.

•  Prepare for and present quarterly online benefits counselor trainings. 

• Respond to statewide questions from benefits counsels and ombudsman

• Execute intake interviews, confirm eligibility for services and check for conflicts of interest according to TLSC policy.

• Communicate with third parties, party grant partners such as the Agencies on Aging and HHSC Ombudsmen on behalf of clients and the TLSC mission.

• Travel to designated counties in the state of Texas to conduct outreach and clinic activities, and legal representation.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Current knowledge and expertise of the law and legal system, especially in areas that impact senior citizens, Medicare, and Medicaid.

• High-level organizational skills.

• Exceptional listening, verbal, and written communications skills.

• Strong time management and attention to detail.

• Proficiency with (or the ability to learn) LegalServer (TLSC’s case management system).

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

• Understanding of grant requirements and associated reporting needs.

• Commitment to promoting inclusion, equity, and cultural responsiveness, and to protecting the rights of marginalized and underserved populations.

• Ability to travel to out-of-town locations that include overnight stays.

• Ability to work with clients in a patient, trauma-informed and non-judgmental manner.

• Ability to enter information into case management system accurately.

Supervisor Responsibilities: Not applicable to this position.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• J.D. Degree

Licensure and/or Certification: Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas.

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.

• Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.

• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force as needed, at times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.