Chief Attorney - Workers' Rights Unit

Job Description

Job Description

Maryland Legal Aid seeks an innovative and experienced leader to serve as Chief Attorney for its newly created Workers’ Rights Unit in the Baltimore City office. The Chief Attorney will design and lead the Unit’s training, supervision, and structure to ensure high-quality legal representation for low-wage workers.

Maryland Legal Aid’s workers’ rights advocacy seeks to expand its direct services practice to focus on issues impacting low-wage workers, such as wage disputes, worker misclassification, workplace conditions, and improper garnishments. Currently, the unit focuses on barriers to employment including expungement of criminal records and unnecessary license requirements. The Chief Attorney will bring relevant subject-matter experience to expand Maryland Legal Aid’s capacity and expertise to provide representation to low-wage workers.

We are piloting this new practice area in Baltimore City with the intention of rolling out the practice throughout our statewide nonprofit legal services law firm. The Chief Attorney will work closely with legal leadership to develop and define our workers’ rights practice across Maryland Legal Aid. In addition to supervising and mentoring attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff, the Chief Attorney will play a vital role in community engagement and organizational leadership, joining the Legal Department’s leadership team to help guide Maryland Legal Aid’s work as a whole.

About Maryland Legal Aid:

Maryland Legal Aid advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change.

Since 1911, Maryland Legal Aid has provided high-quality legal aid to vulnerable, low-income people and communities – helping to remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges, achieve stability and independence, and reach their goals. Maryland Legal Aid also identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. Maryland Legal Aid’s core work includes eviction and foreclosure prevention, family law, children’s rights, consumer protection, securing public benefits, and access to healthcare. Maryland Legal Aid advocates for individuals through the courts, and we engage in impact litigation, communication and outreach, and policy advocacy.

Through this holistic approach, Maryland Legal Aid serves to amplify the voices of tens of thousands of economically disadvantaged and vulnerable Marylanders each year and seeks to be a leader in the legal services field nationwide.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Planning of the Workers’ Rights Unit

• With the Chief and Deputy Legal Directors, develop and implement a vision and plan for the work and structure of the Workers’ Rights Unit
• Working with the Training Department, identify and address initial and ongoing staff training needs to expand the unit’s capacity to represent low-wage workers in relevant Maryland Legal Aid priority areas
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure appropriate client referrals to the unit
• Develop unit goals and relevant resources, including training materials and practice manuals to develop this practice area

Staff Supervision and Development

• Provide positive leadership, guidance, and supervision to a unit of approximately six staff, including staff and senior attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff, plus periodic law clerk and volunteer support
• Guide the professional development of staff, including co-counseling of cases, reviewing substantive legal work, and providing meaningful assessments and evaluation of staff and their advocacy efforts, compliance, caseloads, and productivity
• Conduct case reviews and assign cases to staff consistent with Maryland Legal Aid’s case acceptance guidelines
• Oversee the administrative needs of the unit, including scheduling, maintenance, and other ad hoc projects
• In consultation with human resources, lead hiring efforts to attract talented staff who are committed to the mission and work of Maryland Legal Aid
• Build a cohesive, supportive team that works well with one another, develops objectives and priorities for the unit, and maintains open communication
• Ensure that effective, culturally responsive legal assistance is provided to low-income clients in an efficient, zealous, client-centered, and compassionate manner
• Address client issues and grievances
• Using data and drawing from legal issues arising from direct representation, conduct impactful advocacy designed to address systemic problems affecting individuals and communities living in poverty, with a focus on low-wage workers
• Encourage staff engagement with the community through outreach and education
• Ensure that staff comply with required timekeeping and grant-reporting obligations
• Carry a limited caseload commensurate with the Chief’s expertise that accounts for managerial responsibilities for the office

Statewide Strategy and Leadership

• Participate in officewide, statewide, and potentially national task forces and advocacy efforts, including advocacy before the Maryland General Assembly
• Develop relationships and deep knowledge of the needs of low-wage workers and the resources available to address client needs
• Engage community leaders to create connections and enhance Maryland Legal Aid’s reputation in the communities served
• Cultivate effective relationships with the judiciary and private bar
• Contribute to efforts to increase pro bono representation of clients
• Participate in and further Maryland Legal Aid’s strategic plan, including developing the unit’s own plans that align with the strategic plan
• Ensure administrative and regulatory requirements are met
• Serve on a statewide management team and strive to improve the overall quality of Maryland Legal Aid’s service delivery throughout the state
• Assist with Maryland Legal Aid’s resource development efforts, including but not limited to identifying possible funding sources, making presentations to funders, and drafting grant applications and progress reports as needed

Qualifications:

• A law degree and admission to the Maryland Bar, either upon hire or soon after, per the requirements of Maryland’s Rule 19
• At least three years’ experience providing direct representation in cases and issues that impact low-wage workers, with a preference for experience with wage disputes.
• At least five years’ experience in legal services and/or legal management required, seven plus years’ experience preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Command of technology, especially Microsoft Office and Legal Server or a similar case management system
• Time management and organizational skills
• Supervision skills, including giving and receiving feedback
• Well-developed legal issue-spotting skills
• Demonstrated commitment to working with the populations Maryland Legal Aid serves and experience working in communities a plus
• Commitment to Maryland Legal Aid’s values

Schedule, Travel, Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $135,000 , based on experience. In addition, Maryland Legal Aid provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan, 4 weeks paid time off, paid sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, and more!

Maryland Legal Aid has a flexible approach to hybrid work that recognizes the benefits of both remote work and the importance of in-office work for managers and supervisors. The specific schedule can be discussed during the hiring process.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity:

Maryland Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, reflective of our core values, for all employees.

Application Process

Anyone interested in applying must apply via the the online application.