The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia seeks a Deputy Legal Director to help lead, manage, and provide overall vision for the organization’s legal program, which consists of roughly 55 attorneys and fellows, 4 loaned associates, 9 legal assistants and intake coordinators, and a case manager. Legal Aid is the oldest and currently largest general civil legal services program in the District of Columbia. Since 1932, Legal Aid’s has worked to make justice real – in individual and systemic ways – for persons living in poverty in D.C. Legal Aid provides individual representation, advice, and brief services in a wide range of domestic violence/family, housing, public benefits, and consumer law matters. We also work on immigration matters and help individuals with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. From our work with clients, we identify opportunities for—and engage in—law and court reform work, public policy advocacy, and appellate and impact litigation. In addition, Legal Aid maintains a robust pro bono program. For more information about Legal Aid, please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org, and our blog, www.MakingJusticeReal.Org.
Tasks and Duties
Legal Aid has a broad, diverse, and expanding legal program consisting of individual representation and systemic advocacy. The Deputy Legal Director will work closely with the Legal Director, Executive Director, and the Supervising and Managing Attorneys at Legal Aid to provide leadership and vision for, and to oversee the day-to-day management of, all aspects of the legal program. His/her responsibilities may include the following:
• Providing legal, strategic, and ethical guidance to Legal Aid attorneys;
• Setting programmatic priorities and goals, and monitoring Legal Aid’s progress in meeting them;
• Reviewing and analyzing legal program case-handling and advocacy outcomes and data;
• Planning for, developing, leading, and managing large substantive projects and expansions;
• Overseeing grant and fellowship project development, implementation, and reporting;
• Providing supervisory support and guidance to Legal Aid’s Intake and Pro Bono Programs;
• Participating in priority-setting and the strategic planning of policy and appellate advocacy;
• Engaging in conceptualization and case development, and possibly leading or co-counseling, affirmative impact litigation;
• Coordinating trainings, outreach, and community engagement;
• Managing and participating in the hiring, onboarding, and departures of legal program staff;
• Providing ongoing professional development and training opportunities and ensuring the continued growth of legal program staff; and
• Coordinating and conducting performance evaluations of, and handling confidential personnel matters regarding, legal program staff.
The ideal candidate will have the following:
• Substantial relevant legal experience in civil legal services or other public interest law practice, with expertise in one or more of the areas in which Legal Aid practices, a plus;
• Substantial managerial, administrative, and/or supervisory experience, preferably in a civil legal services or public interest law office;
• A demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice;
• Excellent legal, organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent project management, creative and strategic thinking, judgment, and leadership skills;
• The ability to work collaboratively with Legal Aid staff, legal and social services providers in other organizations, and representatives of federal and District government agencies;
• An affable, supportive personality and deep commitment to the professional development of Legal Aid’s programmatic staff;
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish, or in another language used by a large segment of Legal Aid’s client community, preferred but not required.
Membership or eligibility for membership in the DC bar is required.
Legal Aid values an inclusive, diverse workplace and encourages applications from interested persons from diverse backgrounds of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage applications from people with personal experience with the criminal justice system and/or with lived experiences in the communities we serve. Please submit a resume and cover letter here: https://legalaiddc.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=27