This part is designed to promote a mutually beneficial relationship between a recipient and the local Bar and community, and to insure that a recipient will choose highly qualified attorneys for its staff.

Community, as used in this part, means the geographical area most closely corresponding to the area served by a recipient.

A recipient shall establish qualifications for individual positions for attorneys providing legal assistance under the Act, that may include, among other relevant factors:

(a) Academic training and performance;

(b) The nature and extent of prior legal experience;

(c) Knowledge and understanding of the legal problems and needs of the poor;

(d) Prior working experience in the client community, or in other programs to aid the poor;

(e) Ability to communicate with persons in the client community, including, in areas where significant numbers of eligible clients speak a language other than English as their principal language, ability to speak that language; and

(f) Cultural similarity with the client community.

(a) Before filling an attorney position, a recipient shall notify the organized Bar in the community of the existence of a vacancy, and of the qualifications established for it, and seek recommendations for attorneys who meet the qualifications established for the position.

(b) A recipient shall similarly notify and seek recommendations from other organizations, deemed appropriate by the recipient, that have knowledge of the legal needs of persons in the community unable to afford legal assistance.

When equally qualified applicants are under consideration for an attorney position, a recipient shall give preference to an applicant residing in the community to be served.

A recipient shall adopt employment qualifications, procedures, and policies that meet the requirements of applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, and shall take affirmative action to insure equal employment opportunity.

In areas where a significant number of clients speak a language other than English as their principal language, a recipient shall adopt employment policies that insure that legal assistance will be provided in the language spoken by such clients.