Executive Director

Position

Executive Director

Company

National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Location

California

Employment Type

Full‑time

About NLSLA

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) is a private, non‑profit law firm founded in 1965. In its 60th year, the organization serves nearly 175,000 low‑income individuals each year and is funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) along with local, state, federal, foundation, and individual sources. With a 2026 budget of $37 million and approximately 218 staff, including 90 attorneys, NLSLA operates four program offices, nine self‑help centers in courthouses, eight mental‑health clinics, and several collaborative initiatives.

Service Area

NLSLA serves all of Los Angeles County, with priority programs in the San Gabriel, Pomona, San Fernando, and Antelope Valleys and the central cities of Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena. Offices are located in El Monte, Glendale, Pacoima, and the historic General Hospital in Boyle Heights, with additional advocacy sites at courthouses, community centers, and mental‑health facilities throughout the county.

About The Role

The Executive Director is the organization’s chief executive and public leader, responsible for strategic leadership, program excellence, financial sustainability, fundraising, compliance, and community and political relations. The role leads a seasoned senior management team, works closely with the Board of Directors, and operates as the primary public representative of NLSLA at local, state, and national levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, mission‑driven leadership to advance access to justice throughout Los Angeles County.
• Ensure delivery of high‑quality legal services across diverse programs and service models.
• Serve as the primary public representative of NLSLA at the local, state, and national levels, including with courts, government agencies, funders, and community partners.
• Lead fundraising efforts for operations, innovation, and capital improvements; engage directly in major donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Recruit, develop, and support senior leadership and staff; foster an inclusive, high‑performing organizational culture.
• Continue development of a collaborative working relationship with NLSLA’s union staff, including negotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Oversee fiscal management, long‑term financial planning, audits, and risk management.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to support governance, strategic planning, and fiduciary oversight.

Compensation

Salary range is $220,000 to $270,000, commensurate with experience. NLSLA provides a generous and comprehensive benefits package; additional details are available upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

NLSLA is committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination based on protected characteristics. Decisions related to hiring, compensating, training, evaluating performance, promoting, or terminating are made fairly and based on job‑related qualities and abilities. NLSLA examines unconscious biases and strives to create an inclusive environment where all are welcomed. The organization will consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’s Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. In some circumstances, certain convictions may be considered incompatible with the responsibilities of specific roles, particularly where the safety and well‑being of vulnerable client populations are a concern.

NLSLA’s Commitments

• Continuous Learning: Cultivating cultural competency and humility through ongoing training, open dialogue, and self‑reflection.
• Equitable Practices: Regularly reviewing and revising policies, procedures, and decision‑making processes to ensure fairness and access for all.
• Strategic Resource Allocation: Directing resources toward initiatives that empower communities.
• Meaningful Community Engagement: Partnering with the communities we serve to co‑create solutions and foster trust.
• A Respectful Workplace: Providing an environment free from discrimination where every individual is valued, heard, and respected for their unique contributions.