Tribal Survivor Project Staff Attorney

POSITION: Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project (CVLAP) is seeking a Staff Attorney focused on serving Native American survivors of domestic violence in Northern Michigan with family law matters. This Staff Attorney will be responsible for working with clients (ranging from advice to full litigation) with civil cases in both State and Tribal Court. Although their work will be fully remote, this Attorney will be responsible for serving clients located primarily in Northern Michigan (but not in the Upper Peninsula) so applications residing in Northern Michigan are given preference. This grant funded contract position expires October 2026. When fully staffed, the CVLAP Tribal Survivor Project (TSP) team is made up of a Supervising Attorney, 2 Staff Attorneys and a part-time Legal Assistant.  This position is part of a joint project with Uniting Three Fires Against Violence, which is a Statewide Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault Coalition serving the Tribes located in Michigan. The Tribal Survivor Project staff are also part of the larger CVLAP program, which is connected with civil legal aid attorneys across the state that specialize in providing legal assistance in cases involving, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault and elder abuse. Applicants must reside in the state of Michigan.  

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: CVLAP is a statewide program with staff throughout Michigan, in collaboration with Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, and Lakeshore Legal Aid. CVLAP provides outreach and a wide range of legal representation and advocacy to victims of crime, primarily domestic violence and elder abuse survivors under the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA). 

CVLAP is part of Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services (MSAS), a non-profit law firm providing free legal services to older adults and people with low income through several statewide programs. MSAS is administered by the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP), which provides access to the justice system for those who need it the most through civil legal aid offices and statewide advocacy programs. MAP’s mission is to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions. Visit cvlap.org and miadvocacy.org for more information.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates should be licensed to practice law in Michigan, qualified to be admitted by waiver, or able to take the next Michigan bar exam. Through lived or learned experience, candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income individuals and underserved populations. Candidates must be proficient with major software and web services including Word, Excel, G Suite, and have access to a reliable internet connection. Experience with issues impacting domestic violence survivors and/or Native American communities is a plus.  Candidates will need a valid driver’s license and access to transportation so they can reliably travel to meet with clients, attend court hearings, and visit with Tribal Advocates.

BENEFITS: This is a full-time position with a salary starting at $60,000 depending on experience. MAP offers a generous benefits package including life, short- and long-term disability, health, vision, dental and flexible spending accounts. If staff do not require health benefits, they have the option to take an annual $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary paid over the course of the year. MAP also has a generous leave policy allowing staff to accrue 3 weeks paid vacation the first year and 15 paid holidays, as well as a 401K retirement plan including employer match for eligible staff after 6 months of employment. MAP is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

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TO APPLY: Please complete this application and submit your resume and cover letter. You can also access the application by copying and pasting the following web address into your browser: https://miadvocacy.bamboohr.com/careers/260. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Michigan Advocacy Program is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.