Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project – Central or Northwest Arkansas
Legal Aid of Arkansas is a public interest, not-for-profit law firm dedicated to assuring equal access to justice in civil matters for low-income Arkansans. Legal Aid’s advocates provide wraparound legal services in housing preservation, domestic violence prevention, economic justice, and consumer protection.
We are seeking an attorney to join our Fair Housing Project, which focuses on identifying, investigating, and eliminating housing discrimination throughout Arkansas. The staff attorney will work with the Fair Housing Project to conduct systemic investigations seeking to identify housing discrimination, assist clients in resolving claims, provide direct representation in state court, federal court, and before administrative agencies, and engage the community through education and outreach. The position will be in our Little Rock or Springdale office.
Required qualifications:
− Arkansas bar admission or eligible for reciprocity
− Strong personal work ethic and ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines with minimal supervision
− Familiarity with laws and regulations relevant to fair housing, homeowner and tenant rights, and subsidized housing is a plus
− Excellent legal writing skills
− Trial court experience is a plus
− Ability to speak Spanish or Marshallese is a plus
− Ability to maintain good relationships with clients, co-workers, and the community
− Driver’s license and ability to travel throughout Arkansas to represent clients
Compensation and Benefits: The salary is $56,089-$86,377 per year, depending on experience. Legal Aid of Arkansas offers health and dental insurance, retirement, Supreme Court and bar association dues, CLE, position-related travel reimbursement and per diem, student loan repayment assistance, and other benefits.
To Apply:
To apply please email your resume and three references to Lee Richardson, Executive Director lrichardson@arlegalaid.org. The position is open until filled. Apply as soon as possible.
Legal Aid of Arkansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our employees.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE PCBA ABOUT THIS JOB LISTING.
APPOINTMENT OF NEW MAGISTRATE JUDGE
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas. The position will be created by the planned retirement of Judge Barry A. Bryant. The position’s duty station will be El Dorado, AR. Travel will be required throughout the district, and frequent travel will include Texarkana and Hot Springs.
The duties of the position include presiding over initial proceedings in criminal cases; trials of misdemeanor cases, including petty offenses; pretrial matters and other proceedings in civil and criminal cases; conducting civil settlement conferences; and disposition of civil cases with the consent of the parties. The basic authority of a U.S. Magistrate Judge is specified in in 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 72.1.
To be qualified for appointment an applicant must:
(1) Be, and have been for at least five years, a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands of the United States, and have been engaged in the active practice of law for a period of at least five years (with some substitutes authorized);
(2) Be competent to perform all the duties of the office; be of good moral character; be emotionally stable and mature; be committed to equal justice under the law; be in good health; be patient and courteous; and be capable of deliberation and decisiveness;
(3) Be less than 70 years old; and
(4) Not related to a judge of the District Court.
A merit selection panel composed of attorneys and other members of the community will review all applicants and recommend to the district judges in confidence the five persons it considers best qualified. The court will make the appointment following an FBI full-field investigation and an IRS tax check of the applicant selected by the court for appointment. The individual selected must comply with the financial disclosure requirements pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-521, 90 Stat. 1824 (1978) (codified at 5 U.S.C. app. 4 §§ 101-111) as implemented by the Judicial Conference of the United States. An affirmative effort will be made to give due consideration to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age (40 and over), gender, religion, national origin, or disability. The current annual salary of the position is $227,608. The term of office is eight (8) years.
An application form and instructions are provided on the Court’s website at www.arwd.uscourts.gov. Application materials may be submitted to the mailing or email address below:
Ronald E. Dowling, Clerk of Court
United States District Court – Western District of Arkansas
30 S. 6th Street, Suite 1038
Fort Smith, AR 72901
or
Email to: ronald_dowling@arwd.uscourts.gov
Application packets must include a completed application, cover letter and resume, and be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Friday, February 14, 2025.
All applications will be kept confidential, unless the applicant consents to disclosure, and all applications will be examined only by members of the merit selection panel and the Judges of the District Court. The panel’s deliberations will remain confidential. The U.S. Courts are equal opportunity employers.