Position

Iowa Legal Aid seeks applicants to fill 9 full-time and 2 half-time AmeriCorps member positions for its regional offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo. Iowa Legal Aid provides free, high-quality legal education, advice and representation to low-income and elderly Iowans with civil legal problems that most dramatically affect Iowa's poor and vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities:

Individual AmeriCorps members will help with various projects that can include: helping seniors, returning veterans, and low-income Iowans get legal help; enhancing our unified client intake system; increasing outreach to underserved minority, disabled, and immigrant groups; advancing legal self-help education, recruiting volunteers; increasing the development of Iowa Legal Aid's website; and marketing and public relations activities.

We seek applicants who communicate well with individuals and groups, both verbally and in writing. Also, applicants should have some or all of the following:

1. Bi-lingual verbal and written communication skills, in one or more of several languages used most often by low-income Iowans, including Spanish, Bosnian, and/or Arabic;
2. Background working with people who are low-income, elderly, victims of domestic violence, from other cultural and/or ethnic backgrounds, and/or disabled;
3. Ability to use computers to store and organize information, perform research;
4. College or community college degree.
5. Background in journalism and/or marketing.

When filled, but with all members starting between Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2008.

Full-time members receive a modest living stipend, health & dental insurance, student loan forbearance, child care benefit, and can receive an education award of $4,725. Half-time members do not receive health or dental insurance, and their living stipend and education award are half of what full-time members receive.

Submit letter of application, including geographic preference, resume, and at least three professional references to:

Gail R. Klearman, Managing Attorney
Iowa Legal Aid
1111 9th Street, Suite 230
Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2527
515-243-1198 ext 1678
or
1-800-532-1275

Iowa Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PLEASE POST OR CIRCULATE