Legal Aid Society Of DC

The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia seeks an experienced Supervising Attorney for its Housing Law Unit.

Since 1932, Legal Aid has provided civil legal assistance to clients in individual cases and engaged in systemic reform. Currently, we provide individual representation in consumer law, domestic violence/family law, housing, public benefits, and appellate matters. We also work on immigration matters and help individuals with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. From the experiences of our clients, we identify opportunities for law reform, public policy advocacy, and systemic impact and appellate litigation.

Legal Aid believes that meaningful pursuit of our anti-poverty mission requires an unwavering commitment to racial justice and equity. We aspire both to reflect the rich racial diversity of the communities we serve and to value, respect, and empower our staff and clients to be effective agents of change. For more information about Legal Aid please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org, and our blog, www.MakingJusticeReal.org.

The Supervising Attorney will be one of four co-supervisors providing overall leadership and vision for Legal Aid’s housing law practice. In addition to supervisors, the Housing Unit has four staff attorneys, eight senior staff attorneys, two “loaned associates” from law firms, two project coordinators, two legal assistants, and a tenant support specialist. The Housing Law Unit prioritizes cases that involve the prevention of an avoidable eviction and the preservation of safe and affordable housing and subsidized housing. The Supervising Attorney will report to the Legal Director for the Direct Legal Services Program.

Responsibilities:

Supervising Attorney Staff

• Supervise and guide unit attorneys at regular case review meetings; provide timely feedback to supervisees on case strategy, filings, and other work product.
• Participate in performance evaluations; support supervisees’ professional development by working to identify strengths, areas for growth and improvement, and goals.
• Perform administrative and management functions necessary for supervision and organizational operations, including reviewing leave requests, timekeeping and deliverables, and ensuring attorneys follow proper policies relating to case management and recordkeeping.
• Support supervisees in meeting case handling expectations while providing high quality legal services.
  

Leadership and Management of the Unit

• Review and assign new cases; convene regular unit meetings; identify or lead training opportunities; create uniform systems and polices for the unit.
• Maintain a modest caseload of housing law matters for direct representation, either as sole counsel or co-counsel.
• Work with the Pro Bono team to place and mentor housing cases.
• Working with co-supervisors to equitably divide responsibilities, supervisors will perform some, but not all of the following tasks:
• Oversee court-based legal services projects focused on providing same-day assistance to low-income litigants with housing law cases in DC Superior Court.
• Engage with leaders at DC Superior Court and relevant DC agencies to promote access to justice and the effective implementation of laws and programs impacting Legal Aid’s client community.
• In collaboration with Legal Aid’s Development Unit, draft grant applications and reports relating to funding sources that support the unit’s work, and work with project coordinators to oversee data collection and management as required by specific grants.
• Together with the Director of Policy Advocacy, identify and advance policy goals to address systemic issues impacting low-income District tenants through legislative, administrative and other reform.
• Work with Legal Aid’s Barbara McDowell Appellate Project to monitor for and participate in appellate cases with potential impact on the unit’s priority issues.

Leadership of the Organization

• Supervise intake and conflict clearance.
• Consider the impact of proposed organization-wide policies or actions on the Housing Law Unit, as well as the impact on the entire organization.
• Participate in organization-wide discussions and initiatives.

People & Culture

• Actively participate as part of team of Supervisors and Project Directors in crafting and advancing organizational initiatives.
• Help to foster and reflect an inclusive organizational culture.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Membership or eligibility for membership in the DC bar is required. Candidates for the Supervising Attorney position should have the following:
• A minimum of five years of experience in legal services, preferably in housing law.
• A demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.
• Significant litigation experience.
• The ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and organizational responsibilities.
• The ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with clients, staff, partner organizations, pro bono attorneys, the judiciary, and members of local legal services and advocacy coalitions.
• Ability to work skillfully, both independently and collaboratively with teams.
• Experience managing or supervising attorneys preferred.
• Proficiency or fluency in a language spoken by our client community, other than English, would be a positive factor.
  

Salary and Benefits:

The Supervising Attorney will be paid in accordance with Legal Aid’s salary scale based on years of experience, starting at $83,211 for a candidate with five years of relevant experience. Generous benefits package includes fully paid health insurance (for the employee), annual discretionary retirement match, 12 paid holidays, three personal days and generous annual and sick leave allotments starting at 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave per year.

To Apply:

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. Interested persons are encouraged to apply immediately and should submit a letter of interest and resume. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Position remains open until filled. Please submit cover letter and resume here. No emails or phone calls, please.

More about the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia:

Legal Aid, founded in 1932, provides free civil legal services to persons living in poverty in the District of Columbia. The largest part of our work is composed of direct representation in housing, family/domestic violence, public benefits, and consumer law. We also work on immigration law matters and help individuals with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. From the experiences of our clients, we identify opportunities for law reform, public policy advocacy, and systemic reform litigation. We have grown to a staff of more than 90 attorneys and staff, serving some 10,000 DC residents annually through direct legal services, and tens of thousands more through systemic advocacy and litigation. For more information about Legal Aid, please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org, and our blog, www.MakingJusticeReal.org.