Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

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 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 a full-time, Family Law/Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) staff attorney position in the Montgomery County office. MLA provides representation to children in CINA matters pursuant to a contract with the state of Maryland. This hybrid Family Law/CINA position handles a wide array of legal advocacy for children in the juvenile courts and foster care system as well as adult litigants in family law cases including custody and divorce matters. The Family Law/ CINA staff attorney represents child clients in CINA cases of all ages and adult family law clients primarily before the Maryland Circuit and Appellate Courts. The attorney also engages in advocacy in other forums and ancillary proceedings, including family meetings, mediations, and IEP meetings. In CINA proceedings, the staff attorney advocates to ensure the child’s perspective, opinions, and needs are centered before the court and pursues legal outcomes consistent with the child’s wishes or best interests. The staff attends trainings as necessary to perform job duties. The staff attorney participates in Maryland Legal Aid task forces, internal and external committees, and outreach activities and clinics as directed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Screen clients for eligibility and make referrals, as appropriate.
• Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients.
• Conduct factual investigation and analysis as well as legal research.
• Advise clients of results of investigation and research and counsel clients regarding their options.
• Draft pleadings to include complaints, answers, counter-complaints, motions, memoranda of law, and briefs.
• Request and respond to discovery requests.
• Develop case theory and strategy for the representation of clients.
• Prepare cases and represent clients during negotiations and in hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Work with various community groups as assigned by the supervisor.
• Continue professional development and education through attendance at Maryland Legal Aid sponsored training and other programs.
• Maintain case records for clients in the LegalServer case management system.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland, admitted in another jurisdiction, or a graduate of an ABA-approved law school 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.
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• A minimum of one (1) year of prior legal experience in child welfare, juvenile, or related family law proceedings. Maryland-specific experience is preferred but not required. 
• Knowledge of principles of civil law, judicial procedures, and rules of evidence.
• Ability to use a computer, web-based applications, and computer programs such as Office 365, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent research, critical thinking, writing, litigation, and communication skills.
• Self-starter with ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet regular deadlines in a fast-paced environment while balancing a full workload.
• Ability to provide quality legal advocacy and representation for a low-income, diverse client base.
• Experience working with children preferred.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally in Maryland and outside of the state as needed.
• Access to a vehicle to complete required visits with child clients in the community.
• Knowledge of Westlaw Edge or other legal research software preferred.
• Spanish language proficiency preferred.

Work Environment 

Work duties are typically performed in a general office setting, with regular interaction via telephone, videoconference, instant messaging, and email, in person, and in a courtroom. Certain work duties may be performed in community settings.

Benefits

The current salary range for the staff attorney position is $79,116 - $122,122. Staff attorneys will be paid by Maryland Legal Aid’s Workers Union’s current salary scale, which is subject to revision annually through collective bargaining negotiations. For example: 

• The salary for an attorney with one (1) year of experience is $80,305.

• The salary for an attorney with three (3) years of experience is $82,681.

• The salary for an attorney with five (5) years of experience is $85,057. 

Salary placements for attorneys are on the earliest date of admission to a U.S. state bar, assuming eligibility to practice (either under the Maryland bar or under Rule 15 if another state bar) and continuous full-time legal work experience following the date of admission. In addition, Maryland Legal Aid provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan, three weeks of paid time off, sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, a hybrid work arrangement, and more. 

Additional Requirements:

• Current Resume

• Cover letter explaining your skills and interest in the position

• 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.