Supervising Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) 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. MLA also identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. MLA’s core work includes eviction and foreclosure prevention, family law, children’s rights, consumer protection, securing public benefits, and access to healthcare. MLA advocates operate primarily through the courts, via individual representation of indigent clients, but also engage in impact litigation, public 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.

JOB SUMMARY

MLA announces an immediate opening for a full-time Supervising Attorney position in the Montgomery County office located in Rockville, MD. The Supervising Attorney is assigned to a unit or office to assist the Chief Attorney in managing the office and/or a specialized unit. The Supervising Attorney is responsible with the Chief Attorney for planning the work of the office/unit, implementing the priorities, assigning work, hiring, supervising, and evaluating staff to ensure high-quality legal representation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan and assign the legal work of the office/unit in consultation with the Chief Attorney.
• Develop and evaluate strategies to accomplish the work of the office/unit.
• Supervise attorneys and paralegals, and, where applicable, manage clerical employees.
• Monitor substantive legal work and provide consultation and advice to staff attorneys and paralegals.
• Represent clients by maintaining a caseload and co-counseling with staff attorneys.
• Assign cases and tasks to the attorney(s)/paralegal(s).
• Implement a case management system for the supervisees.
• Monitor and supervise case handling of persons supervised and direct appropriate action to ensure quality representation.
• Develop a leadership role in legal services organizations, bar associations, and community groups.
• Identify, develop, and implement advocacy strategies for systemic legal problems.
• Ensure grant compliance and prepare and draft required grant funder reports.
• Screen and interview candidates for employment and effectively recommend hiring decisions.
• Train, coach, and develop staff.
• Assume the duties of the Chief Attorney when the Chief Attorney is absent for any reason.
• Participate in outreach activities in the community as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the position's essential functions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland or admitted in another jurisdiction and eligible for admission in the State of Maryland. Out-of-State attorneys must be able and available to take the next scheduled bar exam following the date of employment. Federally Barred Attorneys are desirable.
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Knowledge of principles of civil law, judicial procedures, and rules of evidence.
• Excellent research, critical thinking, writing, and communication skills. 
• Ability to provide quality legal advocacy and representation for low-income, diverse client base.
• Prior experience and/or interest in public-interest litigation or providing nonprofit legal services is a plus.
• Prior experience in family law, consumer, and public benefits law preferred.   

Salary & Benefits

The current salary range is $96,000 - $110,000. In addition, MLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan that includes employer contributions, 2 weeks paid time off, sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, a hybrid work arrangement, and more.

Additional Requirements:

• Cover letter and writing sample required of all applicants.
• References will be required at the time of the final interview.

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.

Anyone interested in applying must apply online.