Veterans Advocacy Project Staff Attorney – Chester City (Delaware County), PA

Job announcement (posted Jan. 15, 2025)

SUMMARY

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) seeks a full-time attorney to provide legal services in its Veterans Unit. LASP provides free civil legal services to eligible clients in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. The Veterans Unit focuses on community engagement and representation in VA benefits, military discharge upgrades, and social security matters.

The Veterans Advocacy Project (VAP), LASP’s newest regional unit established in 2020, is currently based in Chester City, Delaware County. 

Applications are welcomed from attorneys with experience in veterans benefits/discharge upgrades and attorneys who would be new to the practice, but who are excited to learn and motivated by our mission.

Staff currently work on a hybrid basis. The successful candidate will be expected to perform in-office work and attend in-person court appearances as well as be able to work remotely as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

  1. Maintain a caseload and represent clients before the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), military Discharge Review Boards & Boards of Correction for Military/Naval Records (DRB & BCM/NRs), Social Security Administration (SSA), and other representation, as necessary.

    a. Interviewing clients, assisting in determining eligibility for services, and ascertaining and investigating facts.

    b. Providing advice and counsel to clients.

    c. Assisting in collecting military, in-service medical, and post-service medical records and reviewing those records (in addition to conducting client and witness interviews) to develop strategy and arguments for presentation of cases.

    d. Conducting legal research and interpreting statutes, case law, regulations, and other sources of law, with a focus on military discharges and VA service-connected disabilities.

    e. Preparing legal documents, including discharge upgrade applications and appeals, VA service-connected compensation applications and appeals, and Social Security applications and appeals.

    f.  Developing strategy and arguments for presentation of cases and assisting in preparation of witnesses for hearings and trials.

    g. Representing client at hearings, in trial and appellate courts, and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies.

    h. Reviewing decisions and consulting with supervising attorney and management team to determine merits of appeals.

  2. Partner and collaborate with social service/veteran community organizations throughout LASP’s service area and region.

  3. Track client information in LASP’s database and contribute to reports required by funders.

  4. Enhance skills and substantive knowledge through training, CLE, and other educational opportunities.

    a. Becoming engaged in LASP team efforts to achieve office and program goals, including participation in program-wide affinity groups and task forces.

    b. Participating in regular meetings and check-ins with Supervising Attorney, including weekly staff meetings and 1-on-1s.

  5. Complete required administrative tasks including entering of notes and timekeeping in LASP case management software, and maintaining of physical files

  6. Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.

SUPERVISOR

Veterans Advocacy Project Supervising Attorney

QUALIFICATIONS

Licensed attorney, active and in good standing, in Pennsylvania, or the ability to waive into Pennsylvania for licensing purposes. Accredited (or ability to become accredited) with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Certification (or ability to become certified) with the SSI/SSDI Outreach Access & Recovery (SOAR) Program. Commitment to a client-centered, culturally competent, trauma-informed legal aid practice. Excellent analytical, critical thinking, organizational, time-management, and communication skills, including the ability to work well with people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury. Ability to work cooperatively with staff effectively at all levels of the organization. Capacity to assume responsibility quickly and work independently and as part of a team. Demonstrated commitment to social justice and veterans’ issues.

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Prior work in veterans law and policy, including, but not limited to: knowledge and experience with VA claims, including character of discharge applications and disability compensation applications and appeals; discharge upgrade and records correction processes, including drafting applications to the Discharge Review Boards (DRBs) and Boards of Correction for Military/Naval Records (BCM/NRs); and Social Security claims experience, including initial applications through appeals. Experience working with individuals with mental illness, traumatic brain injury, or substance use disorders. Knowledge of Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and branch regulations. Experience working with expert witnesses, specifically forensic mental health professionals, investigations, locating witnesses, making FOIA requests, and drafting affidavits. Experience working with veterans, people with disabilities, and people who are experiencing income insecurity and/or who are unhoused or at-risk.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary for attorneys starts at $58,000 but salary is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits, some of which include 401K with generous employer contributions, health insurance option in which 100% of premium costs are provided, ancillary benefits, and liberal leave provisions, including paid holidays, floating holidays, personal leave, vacation, sick, and parental leave.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

LASP is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate in the recruitment, selection, or advancement of employees on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information or on any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within LASP, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship.  LASP makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. 

TO APPLY

Send resume and cover letter including the job title (Veterans Advocacy Project Staff Attorney) to Elise Wilson-Coles, Human Resources Manager, at Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania to Hiring@lasp.org. Position will remain open until filled.

For additional career opportunities based in multiple locations, please visit lasp.org/careers.

(LMYE12182024)

 

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