Program Specialist, Advocacy & Justice Clinic

Program Specialist (Advocacy & Justice Clinic)

The Program Specialist (Advocacy & Justice Clinic) provides paralegal and administrative support in a wide range of matters related to the overall fulfillment of the mission of the Pro Bono Center's clinics and other programs. The Program Specialist primarily supports the Advocacy & Justice Clinic, and occasionally staffs the Advice & Referral Clinic.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Supports the Advocacy & Justice Clinic to include: interviewing prospective clients by telephone, communicating case updates to prospective clients and Pro Bono Center staff, updating and closing cases, organizing cases waiting for placement using excel spreadsheets, and recording case outcomes.
• Provides on-site and/or remote support at live Advice & Referral Clinics and the Advocacy & Justice Clinics.
• Provides referral information to external partners, accepts/declines referrals, and opens appropriate profiles in Legal Server.
• Prepares program and grant reports and provides administrative support to Pro Bono Center programs.
• Updates and maintains the Pro Bono Center's client, case, and volunteer data, and helps devise and implement system improvements.
• Leads the data collection efforts for Advocacy & Justice Clinic client and attorney surveys.
• Continues to improve the standardized guide/template for client and other communications that will be used permanently by future Program Specialists.
• With the feedback of the rest of the team, the Program Specialist will design instruments that improve attorney volunteer recruitment efforts, improve timely placement of clients with pro bono counsel, and improve internal systems.
• Creates and distributes case files and training materials to volunteer attorneys to ensure readiness and quality representation.
• Screens volunteers, including verifying bar status, conducting background checks, interviewing volunteers, and obtaining signed MOUs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Prior relevant work experience.
• Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends for a variety of Pro Bono Center clinics and events.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat.
• Must be able to interact with individuals with diverse backgrounds, including people impacted by poverty and people living with mental health challenges or disabilities, with patience and compassion.
• Must exercise appropriate judgment and discretion.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be detail oriented and deadline driven. Able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Must work well in a team environment and be able to interact, including in-person, with Bar members, volunteers, vendors, the public and Pro Bono Center and Bar employees.
• Must work well under pressure, possess excellent organizational abilities, and able to manage several priorities in a day.
• Must be adaptable, creative, and self-motivated.
• Ability to handle and maintain the confidentiality of highly sensitive information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Proficiency in Spanish or Amharic.

This position is currently a hybrid position, with days worked in the office and days worked remotely. The hybrid status of this position may change at any time subject to the Pro Bono Center's discretion.

This is not an attempt to list all essential functions of this position. Job duties may change over time based on Pro Bono Center needs.

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center is committed to providing qualified individuals with reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their jobs, pursuant to applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact Human Resources.

As part of the accommodation process, we will conduct an individualized interactive process and may ask you for additional information. Any final hiring decisions or start dates may be delayed while the accommodation review process is ongoing if the individual cannot begin work without the requested accommodation.