Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

CLEAR Clinic Attorney

Class: Academic Professional | Exempt status: Exempt | Level: 7

The CLEAR Clinic (Community Legal & Educational Access & Referral Clinic) Attorney is responsible for the supervision and provision of legal services provided by one or more programs within the Clinic (e.g. criminal record relief, immigration justice, housing justice, and self-determination), to reduce legal barriers and positively impact PCC students and community members’ success. The incumbent may work on one or multiple projects involving record relief, housing justice and immigration justice, and/or other types of legal work at the clinic.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides legal services aimed at mitigating or eliminating barriers to educational access, workforce development, housing security, and wellbeing for PCC students and community members.
2. Organizes and oversees legal clinic events and the provision of one-on-one legal services, ensures effective and efficient provision of legal services, and resolves clinic participant legal issues.
3. Provides strategic legal advocacy and assistance, including legal services aimed at positively impacting academic success and retention, and community strength and resilience. Legal assistance may also include advice, negotiation, and referrals to other resources.
4. Collaborates with management to conduct ongoing needs assessment for student and community legal needs.
5. Attends applicable training, Continuing Legal Education programs and conferences to maintain professional competency.
6. Ensures compliance with the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct for legal field professional standards and best practices.
7. Collaborates with college and community partners and participates in college and community leadership groups and initiatives.
8. Maintains a working knowledge of external and internal resources, policies and procedures and communicates necessary information. Maintains and uses accurate referrals and sources for students in the community; serves as a resource center for legal issues for students and the community as appropriate.
9. Monitors and leads the work of Clinic professional staff, PCC Paralegal Program interns and law student externs in the provision of legal services, and advises staff on legal strategy for cases and clinic events. Engages in and reinforces staff development of leadership competencies, trauma-responsive skills, cultural humility skills, and anti-oppressive legal skills.
10. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and occasional evening or weekend work is required. Frequent travel to other locations may be required. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctorate law degree from an accredited law school, active Oregon State Bar membership, one (1) year of professional experience in the legal field, and one (1) year of experience working with marginalized communities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Program development and management;
• Policy and procedure development and administration;
• Federal and other grant programs;
• Applicable local, state and federal laws, codes, rules, and regulations;
• Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct for legal professional standards and best practices;
• Health, safety and emergency preparation, business and operational continuity, and response.

Skills in:

• Evaluating research to identify potential solutions, resolve problems, and provide information;
• Cultural humility;
• Collaborating with College and community stakeholders;
• Utilizing data and assessment outcomes for communication and making continuous improvements for programs and services;
• Working with diverse academic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and staff.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds;
• Drive systemic change for racial and social equity and justice;
• Manage and mediate conflict and sensitive topics;
• Promote teamwork and engage in an inclusive, collaborative, service-oriented, diverse environment;
• Employ independent judgment in developing strategies and approaches while carrying out the goals of the legal services program;
• Work discreetly with highly confidential and sensitive information;
• Apply independent judgment to interpretation and application of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

New: 6/2023

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.