Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) is a federally-funded, non-profit, civil legal aid law firm that provides free legal information, advice and representation to low-income District of Columbia residents. We help with problems involving housing, family, domestic violence, public benefits and barriers to employment. We also provide advice on some consumer issues and assist with preparing wills and advance directives. Our neighborhood-based, service delivery model - which includes three offices in Wards 5, 7 and 8 -- allows us to bring dedicated legal services attorneys and enthusiastic pro bono lawyers into low-income communities across the city to provide legal help while they learn first-hand the myriad, daily challenges faced by residents living in poverty.
The firm's four Managing Attorneys (Intake/Brief Services Unit, Housing, Family, Barriers to Employment) all report directly to the LAD. The LAD reports directly to the Executive Director, serves on the Senior Management Team and is actively involved in all aspects of law firm management including setting case acceptance priorities, attorney hiring, budgeting, development (including grant -writing) and long-term, strategic planning.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Serves as the firm's chief lawyer and oversees all of the direct, legal services work of the firm at the trial and appellate level, including all affirmative and impact litigation. NLSP's
service delivery model is anchored in a walk-in/ telephone, neighborhood-based intake system that results in community members receiving referrals, legal information, brief services and/or extended service representation. Our multiple, intake sites include three library-based clinics and a monthly clinic at the VA Medical Center.
• Directly supervises the day-to-day legal work of the staff attorneys, post- graduate fellows and loaned associates in the firm's public benefits, veterans, and consumer law practices. The LAD may also directly represent clients and/or co-counsel matters with NLSP attorneys.
• Identify, shape and guide NLSP' s broad-based, high-impact advocacy efforts.
• Play leadership role in developing and implementing litigation skills and substantive training programs.
• Ensure adherence to program and case handling standards, funder requirements and the highest, professional standards.
• Collaborate closely with other legal services providers locally and nationally to identify opportunities to better serve our shared, client community and to pursue, shared advocacy goals.
• Serve as a resource on professional responsibility and ethical issues for attorneys.
• Establish and implement firm program policies relating to legal work.
• Work closely with NLSP's Pro Bono counsel to promote community engagement strategies and use of volunteers in a manner that furthers NLSP's overall advocacy goals and
strengthens its capacity to serve clients.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Must be an active member of the District of Columbia Bar or eligible to immediately seek admission.
• At least eight (8) years of legal services experience with preference shown to candidates with substantial litigation experience in Housing, Family or Consumer Law. Must also have experience supervising attorneys in a litigation setting.
• Experience with complex litigation (state and/or federal) and appellate advocacy desirable.
• Demonstrated commitment to lawyering in the public interest and a familiarity with the local, legal services community.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This position will be open until filled; however, interested applicants should submit their application materials by April 30, 2018 for full consideration. Interested persons should submit a current resume and a cover letter (no longer than one page single-spaced) expressing your qualifications and interest in this position, one writing sample (no more than 10 pages), and contact information for three professional references. Submit all requested documents to Karen A. Newton Cole, Executive Director at [email protected] or by mail to Neighborhood Legal Services Program, 64 New York Avenue NE, Washington D.C. 20002, Attn: Karen A. Newton Cole, Executive Director.
Questions about the position or application process should be directed to Karen A. Newton Cole, Executive Director at [email protected].