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 Position
MSJ has openings for two full-time attorneys to join our team working for social justice, specifically in the areas of immigration, prisoner and civil rights, and/or consumer rights. The position may be filled by an individual working in only one of these practice areas (i.e., a dedicated immigration attorney), or by a person who is interested or has experience in multiple relevant areas of practice. Work may include individual cases, impact and class litigation, and appeals.
The position can be based out of our Morgantown or Charleston office, with the possibility of remote or hybrid work for the right candidate.
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, federal, and/or immigration tribunals for the duration of the case
- Experience with class and impact litigation and/or appeals
- Experience in immigration law, civil rights litigation, or consumer rights 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 (specifically Spanish or Arabic)
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, while an attorney practicing solely immigration law may practice with licensure from any state.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary commensurate with experience. Salaries range from $55,000 for an attorney with little to no prior experience, $70,000-$75,000 for around five years’ experience, up to $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 “Staff Attorney.”
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but applicants are encouraged to apply on or before December 3, 2021. Offers will not be made until after December 3, 2021.
For more information about Mountain State Justice visit www.mountainstatejustice.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mountainstatejustice.