Poverty Research Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Description
SUPERVISING ATTORNEY - HOUSING UNIT
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
MILWAUKEE OFFICE
August 26, 2026
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is seeking applications for a Supervising Attorney for the Milwaukee Housing Unit. The Supervising Attorney will supervise a team providing representation in landlord/tenant law, eviction defense, and other civil matters related to housing for low-income and homeless individuals in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. The Housing Unit Supervising Attorney will also support Legal Action's Eviction Defense Project Supervisor, providing assistance to the staff and volunteers in the Eviction Defense Project in Milwaukee as needed.
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. ("Legal Action") is a non-profit law firm, funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, and many other sources and supporters. Legal Action provides free civil legal aid to low-income persons in Wisconsin with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Oshkosh, Green Bay, La Crosse, and Wausau. Legal Action attorneys and paralegals have expertise in a range of substantive areas, but most of our direct representation is in the areas of housing, public benefits, removing barriers to employment, consumer law, and family law.
Mission Statement: Legal Action's mission is to deliver exceptional civil legal services and structural change advocacy, free of cost, to those most in need. Our core values (equity, advocacy, client-centered, integrity and community) guide our work and actions. Please see our website for a description of the core values and vision that guides our work.
Office Location: This position will be based in Legal Action's Milwaukee office but will occasionally require travel throughout the state.
Governance: This position is governed by the Legal Action's personnel policies.
Position Description:
The Milwaukee Housing Unit Supervising Attorney is responsible for supervising the staff in the Milwaukee Housing Unit. In that role, the Supervising Attorney will supervise and manage direct client services and other services relating to the legal needs of the eligible client population; develop, implement, and monitor multiple funding sources; supervise, train and evaluate attorney and support staff; and communicate with client, community and government organizations about the legal needs of people living in poverty. The Supervising Attorney will also have duties assisting and providing back-up for the Eviction Defense Project.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Directly supervise attorneys and other staff in the Milwaukee Housing Unit

• Provide support and guidance to staff doing housing work in Milwaukee outside the Milwaukee Housing Unit at the direction and with the support of the Milwaukee Managing Attorney

• Review Milwaukee housing intakes and assign or refer cases appropriately

• Conduct regular case reviews of Milwaukee housing cases to answer questions and provide feedback on the quality of legal work done by staff

• Be available for consultation on housing matters between case reviews

• Review closed cases for both quality of legal work and compliance with funding regulations

• Set agendas and lead Milwaukee Housing Unit staff meetings

• Provide quality client representation in some direct-service cases

• Participate in high-impact housing cases at all levels in state and federal court

• Serve clients from a wide range of backgrounds and with different abilities

• Stay abreast of housing law as it develops and changes

• Attend and participate in the Housing Priority Committee

• Work collaboratively with colleagues, the court, volunteers, student interns, and other community partners

• Develop and maintain relationships with funding sources

• Manage numerous grants and/or produce reports for various funders as needed

• Perform other duties which may be assigned from time to time

The Milwaukee Housing Unit Supervising Attorney will report to the Milwaukee Office Managing Attorney.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of experience practicing law

• Admission to the Wisconsin State Bar

• Prior legal aid or other relevant supervision experience

• Familiarity with courtroom procedure, both federal and state

• Superior skills in case analysis, research, and writing

• Demonstrated ability to speak and write clearly, persuasively, and concisely

• Enthusiasm for arguing motions and representing at trial

• Self-motivated, diligent, and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure

• Commitment to serving low-income clients and the Milwaukee/Waukesha communities by improving access to justice;

• Cultural competence and respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance

• Ability to motivate and work harmoniously with others;

• Ability to travel throughout Legal Action's service area to meet with clients and to attend court hearings when it is safe to do so

• Ability to speak another language and cultural affinity for the client community that speaks that language is preferred

Salary/Compensation: Legal Action's salaries are not negotiable: Our salary scales are based solely on years of experience with each step on the scale equivalent to one full year of experience. We strongly encourage applicants to include details in their resume about the duties they performed and the months they worked at each employer and in each position so that we can accurately calculate experience and salary. If we make an offer to an applicant, we depend on the resume that the applicant submitted, and we do not allow for revisions after submission. The salary steps for this position range from:

• Step 3: $71,824
• Step 5: $78,758
• Step 10: $96,092
• Step 20: $117, 471
• Step 30: $129,027
• Step 36: $136,768

Fringe Benefits: All Legal Action employees receive a full package of fringe benefits. It currently includes: employer-paid health and dental insurance for employee, spouse, and family with a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance; employee-paid income protection benefits; a profit-sharing plan; generous sick leave accrual; and at least four weeks of vacation leave and four personal holidays per year. (Legal Action policies require employees with a spouse to contribute $200/month to the health insurance premium if the spouse has other health insurance available to them.)
Spanish or Hmong Language Frequency Premium: Legal Action's Salary Administration Plan includes additional pay of either $2,400 annually or $4,800 annually to those employees who are fluent in Spanish or Hmong.
Flex Work: Legal Action supports flexible work arrangements that meet the goals of the organization and the employee. All employees are eligible to request flexible work, including flextime, compressed work week, and remote work.
Supervision: This position will report to Milwaukee Office Managing Attorney.
Probationary Period: The position is subject to a probationary period of six months. If the position is filled by an internal transfer of an attorney who has already completed their probationary period, there is no additional probationary period.
How to Apply/Deadline for Applications:
Applicants must submit the following application materials via Legal Action of Wisconsin's online applicant portal by accessing the following link:
https://secure2.entertimeonline.com/ta/7988.careers?ApplyToJob=872585798&full_apply=&jobid=872585798

• Cover letter emphasizing your qualifications for the position

• Resume

• Names and contact information for three professional references

To ensure consideration for this position, please submit application materials as soon as
possible. The position will be open until it is filled. We encourage applicants to apply by
September 9, 2026.