Job Details

OAAP Attorney Counselor

The Oregon Attorney Assistance Program (OAAP) is hiring a full-time attorney counselor to join its unique, well-established, and nationally recognized program. The OAAP is a free and confidential service providing assistance to all members of the Oregon legal community with well-being, personal challenges, and crisis support. As an attorney counselor, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Oregon legal profession.

Who We’re Looking For

The OAAP attorney counselors are a resource for attorneys and others in the legal community, offering short-term individual counseling, support groups and workshops, CLEs and other educational programs, and referrals to community resources, as well as a blog and a newsletter. If you are naturally empathetic, possess a passion for helping people, have a gift for deep listening, and are unflappable in crisis, you are ideally suited for this position. Our ideal attorney counselor enjoys assisting lawyers, judges, and law students by meeting them where they are and being responsive to their concerns. Your patience, compassion, and capacity to relate with individuals from all different backgrounds helps put people at ease. You’re self-directed and capable of working independently, yet you flourish in a collaborative, close-knit team environment. You are warm, caring, and approachable, comfortable supporting legal professionals with varying levels of personal assistance needs - whether in crisis or simply looking to enhance their well-being.

If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply. You will be joining a team of dedicated professionals in a supportive, affirming workplace.

What We Offer

The OAAP is a free and confidential service provided by the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund (PLF). We offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including participation in the Oregon PERS/OPSRP retirement program, health insurance, and other benefits.

This position is based at the OAAP office in Portland with a hybrid remote work setup and requires travel throughout Oregon.

What You’ll Do

As the newest member of the OAAP team, you will receive ample training and support to enable you to meaningfully assist the Oregon legal community in the following ways:
 

• Helping all members of the legal community - including lawyers, judges, and law students - with well-being, personal challenges, and crisis support. Areas of OAAP assistance include behavioral health, stress management, depression and anxiety, substance use, career transition, retirement, and more.
• Providing short-term individual counseling and referrals to community resources if appropriate.
• Facilitating support groups and workshops.
• Presenting CLEs and other educational programs to law firms and law-related organizations across the state.
• Writing for various legal publications such as the OAAP’s inSight, its Thriving Today blog, the Oregon State Bar Bulletin, and other media outlets.

What You’ll Need to Be Successful in This Role

Being an OAAP attorney counselor is an important opportunity to assist lawyers and others in the profession in a variety of ways, but it’s also a challenging role that will stretch you as well as stimulate you. To set you up for success in this position, we ask that you meet these criteria:
 

• At least five years of experience practicing law
• Counseling/therapy, social work, or equivalent professional licensure or in the process of completing graduate-level requirements to obtain this licensure
• Behavior health and substance use counseling experience, including group facilitation, recovery support, crisis intervention, and trauma counseling
• If in recovery, a minimum of five consecutive years in recovery
• The capacity to weather high-stress situations
• A wide range of professional aptitudes, including interpersonal, public speaking, presentation, communication, and writing skills
• The ability to communicate clearly and compassionately
• The capability to work independently and also function effectively as a member of a team
• Strong initiative, good judgment, and the ability to collaborate with others
• An understanding of the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program, the Professional Liability Fund, and the Oregon State Bar

Who We Are

Being a lawyer can be challenging. Many in the legal profession face long hours, stiff competition, and high expectations. Some experience constant stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. Fortunately, Oregon has one of the most experienced, successful, and emulated lawyer assistance programs in the country.  

The OAAP attorney counselors help lawyers, judges, and law students develop the skills they need to meet the demands of their professional and personal lives in a healthy way. Our goal is to support legal professionals in achieving greater well-being by helping them acquire the tools they need to manage stress, overcome problematic substance use, attain a satisfying career, achieve and maintain mental health, live a healthful lifestyle, and much more. Our services are confidential, and most of our programs and resources are free.

What You’ll Love

The OAAP has been assisting members of the legal profession since 1982 and is based on the philosophy of lawyers helping lawyers. Each attorney counselor is both a lawyer and a counselor, enabling us to establish a unique rapport with members of the legal community. Our legal education and experiences as practicing lawyers gives us a strong foundation for understanding the situations attorneys face. Our training and experience as counselors provides us with the ability to listen and help lawyers navigate toward solutions.

We invite you to explore our website and learn more about us.

How You Can Apply

Please email your cover letter and resume to:

Emilee Preble
Director of Administration & Underwriting
Email: HR@osbplf.org
Subject line: OAAP Attorney Counselor Position – (your name)

Application Deadline: September 5, 2023

We look forward to receiving your application.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The PLF and the OAAP are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at the PLF and OAAP are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or identity, age, disability, family or parental status, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act and would like to request an accommodation for the application process, please contact Emilee Preble, Director of Administration & Underwriting, at HR@osbplf.org.