Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) seeks two dedicated Florida Bar-licensed attorneys for its Family and Victim Advocacy Unit - one position in our Jacksonville office and the other in our St. Augustine office.

Candidate should have a minimum of 1 to 4 years of practice in marital and family law, including, but not limited to, dissolution of marriage, establishing and modifying child support, paternity, guardianship advocacy, and injunctions for protection. Candidate should also have experience working with victims of domestic violence, including survivors of sexual violence, stalking, dating violence, repeat violence, and cyberstalking. Candidate should be aware of theories of domestic violence and be able to handle clients experiencing trauma. Position may require a holistic representation of victims of violence in a variety of areas such as consumer, housing, employment, and other legal matters.

What you get when you come to JALA

JALA is the premier litigation legal aid firm in the Southeastern United States. We are mission driven, and our team makes a difference in our community. As a JALA employee, you can expect immediate hands-on experience interviewing and counseling clients as well as litigating cases in Federal and State court. Staff is expected to take on challenging cases for our at-risk clients while being mentored and supported in taking on such cases. While there is a premium placed on initiative and self-motivation, you can expect to be supervised by lawyers recognized as subject matter experts in their field (JALA is the only law firm in Florida with two Florida Bar Consumer Protection Lawyers of the Year on staff, for example.) Our lawyers and paralegals regularly serve on local and statewide committees, and our lawyers have gone on to become hearing officers, magistrates, judges and administrative law judges. In addition to the opportunity to litigate early, our lawyers and staff are trusted as professionals - we have adopted a hybrid work environment (although not all positions are able to work remotely.) Regardless of what others may prefer, we embrace diversity and inclusion as a way to ensure we are the most prepared to offer the best and highest level of representation for our clients, as this is what they deserve from us.

Salary/Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits package include, but are not limited to, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, group life insurance, remote/onsite work hybrid, and generous leave policy (e.g., 13 paid holidays plus 22 personal leave days in first year, one-month sabbatical every four years).

$55,000+ DOE

• Applicant intake and client interviews
• Advice and counsel for individuals seeking legal assistance
• Drafting pleadings and motions
• Representation regarding injunctions for protection
• Representation of clients in hearings and at trial
• Comply with grant requirements
• Supervision of support staff
• Meeting with grant funders and city leaders
• Handle clinics and outreach events

• Member in good standing of The Florida Bar
• Minimum of 1 to 4 years of experience in marital and family law
• Familiarity with the Florida Family Law Rules of Civil Procedure

The mission of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is to provide high-quality legal assistance to low-income and special needs groups – to empower them to accomplish energetic and affirmative advocacy, all to alleviate the circumstances, incidents, and causes of poverty and discrimination.

Developed during the Great Depression and subsequent recession of 1937, the organization that has become Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (JALA) was born when a group of Jacksonville Bar attorneys banded together to provide legal services to those in need. Called different names over the years including Duval County Legal Aid Association, it was officially named Jacksonville Area Legal Aid in 1973. The organization achieved 501(c)3 status in 1976. JALA now serves 17 counties of North Florida including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.