Who We Are
Mountain State Justice is a nationally recognized, non-profit law office with offices in Charleston, and Morgantown, West Virginia. MSJ is dedicated to redressing entrenched and emerging systemic social, political, and economic imbalances of power for marginalized West Virginians, through legal advocacy and community empowerment. Essential to our mission is an inclusive work environment that encourages, supports, and rewards the collaborative and creative pursuit of professional excellence. The MSJ team is committed to shared values of impact; excellence; empowerment; compassion; integrity; maximizing available resources; and addressing unmet needs.
At MSJ you will work with creative and aggressive advocates who care deeply about our work and our clients. MSJ values candidates who bring diverse experiences to the workplace, including economic, racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds, and legal system contact.
The Positions
MSJ is seeking two full-time attorneys to advance economic justice for our clients, focusing on consumer rights individual, class, and impact litigation and appeals on behalf of low-income West Virginians.
Location
One position will handle a caseload in active litigation pending in state and federal court in north central, north western, and northern West Virginia, including the northern panhandle. The preferred location of the position is in our Morgantown office.
One position will handle a caseload in active litigation pending in state and federal court in southern West Virginia. The preferred location of the position is in our Charleston office.
However, the right candidate may be permitted to work out of either office, remotely, or with a hybrid arrangement. The position requires in person attendance at court hearings, depositions, mediations, trials, as well as quarterly in person staff meetings and an annual retreat.
Timing
We seek to fill each of these vacant positions as soon as possible. However, MSJ will consider current 3Ls, law clerks, and others who will not be available until the late summer 2022.
Who You Are
The following is an aspirational view of an ideal candidate; we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from historically marginalized groups. While no candidate will bring every qualification desired, the below are representative of the knowledge and skills that MSJ seeks for this hire:
- Experience litigating in state and federal court from intake through trial
- Experience with class and impact litigation and appeals
- Experience in consumer rights or other economic justice litigation
- Lived experience with racism, poverty, and/or other inequity
- Ability to take initiative and to be self-directed
- Energetic and ability to thrive in a fast-past environment
- Demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice
- Experience working with marginalized people
- Strong writing and analytic skills
- Strategic and creative thinking
- Interest in collaboration
- Excellent communication skills
- Organizational skills
- Bilingual
West Virginia Bar admission is not immediately required: An attorney licensed in another state/jurisdiction may work in legal services for up to five years based on that out-of-state certification.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary commensurate with experience. Salaries range from $55,000 for an attorney with little to no prior experience, around $70,000 for around five years’ experience, to around $105,000 for an extremely qualified individual under the metrics above. Benefits include health, vision, dental, and life insurance as well as a flexible spending account and/or health savings account, and paid leave.
Application Process
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to rachel@msjlaw.org with the subject line “Economic Justice Attorney.” Please specify which location you are applying for, and please state where you saw this posting.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but preference will be given to applicants who apply on or before March 31, 2021.
For more information about Mountain State Justice visit www.mountainstatejustice.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mountainstatejustice.