Staff Attorney - Tribal

Position Description

Staff Attorney

Tribal Benefits

May be based in Wausau (preferred), Green Bay, Oshkosh

Full-time

September 15, 2026

Introduction: LAW is seeking applications for Tribal Public Benefits Attorney to work with Elder and Disability Benefits Specialists embedded in tribal agencies and ADRC’s across Wisconsin.

Legal Action, 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 may be based in the Wausau (preferred), Green Bay, or Oshkosh offices.

Governance:
Legal Action’s personnel policies govern this position.

The Tribal Benefit Specialist Program Attorney assists both the Tribal Elder Benefits Specialist (EBS) and Tribal Disability benefits Specialist (DBS), who are lay advocates embedded in tribal agencies and Tribal ADRCs. The Staff Attorney must be familiar with and train others in advocacy for tribal elders and tribal members, 18-59 years of age, with disabilities. This position will support others who help tribal members with Social Security Retirement and Survivor benefits, Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medical Assistance – Health Insurance, Food Share, Utility Assistance, low‑income housing, Veteran Benefits, and other public benefit programs Between these traditional and non‑traditional responsibilities, staff attorneys are expected to work a minimum of 40 hours per week.

• Remain current with the areas of law that pertain to the EBS and DBS communities as they change and develop.
• Provide high‑quality representation of clients in individual service cases and impact work. Impact work is expected to have long‑term positive effects on low‑income people or improve systems that impact the low‑income community.
• Perform all duties associated with such representation as defined by our attorney performance standards.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with Tribal communities, ADRCs, State coordinators and community groups, bar associations, and others.
• Train and assist volunteers who participate in Legal Action's Volunteer Lawyer Project and other Legal Action staff attorneys.
• Perform intake duties and, where necessary, make appropriate referrals to other community agencies.
• Serve on at least one of our Priority Committees:
  Housing;
  Barriers to Employment;
  Consumer;
  Public Benefits; and Family law. Priority committees are comprised of Legal Action advocates practicing in those areas of law. They meet quarterly to discuss trends in the law and practicing in that area of law and strategizing the firm’s work.
• Travel to each of the EBS and DBS offices covered by the program on an annual basis and conduct regular case reviews and advocate reviews.
• Perform case work and outreach activities, including statewide meetings of importance to tribal elders and those living with disabilities.
• The…