Description:
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), founded in 1981, is the oldest and largest volunteer legal services organization in Maryland. MVLS removes barriers to justice through free civil legal help, community engagement, and advocacy for equitable laws. Our vision is for a fair legal system that is free of injustice and equitably serves underrepresented Marylanders. We achieve this goal primarily through our core pro bono program and more targeted programs that serve specialized legal needs. For more program information, visit our website: www.mvlslaw.org.MVLS' core values are teamwork, passion for MVLS' mission, commitment to clients, volunteers, and community partners, initiative and commitment to eliminate systemic barriers to justice based on race and economic disparities. MVLS is committed to fostering an inclusive culture in the workplace. Our work to end barriers to justice starts with increasing the diversity of our staff to better reflect the communities we serve.
The family law staff attorney will manage our Judicare program, which provides representation to clients with complex contested custody and divorce cases. The position will provide support and mentorship to MVLS volunteer attorney pool, provide brief advice to applicants awaiting an attorney, answer legal questions from intake advocates and other staff, organize and conduct trainings on family law topics, recruit Judicare attorneys and support overall family law services at MVLS.
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide brief advice and counseling to MVLS applicants awaiting placement with an attorney
- Provide mentoring and support to MVLS pool of Judicare attorneys
- Create ongoing quarterly training series for volunteer attorneys
- Create and maintain educational materials, practice guides and template documents for volunteers
- Develop and implement annual Family Law Cohort Program for newer practitioners
- Draft and submit articles to bar association journals and other publications on family law matters, as requested
- Participate in the development of educational outreach for clients, as needed
- Manage and actively participate in Judicare volunteer interactive listserv, encouraging open communication with the MVLS volunteer attorneys
- Participate virtually in attorney recruitment and retention efforts, including regular participation in state and local bar association family law sections and presentations to such sections
- Provide support by answering family law legal questions for MVLS intake advocates and staff attorneys
- Assist in placing family law cases with MVLS volunteer attorneys
- Perform data analysis, outcome tracking, and grant reporting
- Identify trends and prevalent issues among client population and participate in advocacy efforts around these issues
- Identify, develop, and support relationships with community partners
- Provide Know-Your-Rights trainings
- Attend community events
- Represent a small caseload of family law clients
- Work as a member of the MVLS team, supporting other staff and other areas of our work
- Perform data analysis, outcome tracking, and grant reporting
- Excellent written and oral communication
- Skilled in case management
- Ability to confidently and effectively communicate with diverse audiences on a variety of complex family law issues.
- Demonstrated networking and relationship management skills
- Willingness to learn and present about the legal services provided by MVLS
- Be a team player who can work and communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, and community partners
- Strong planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
- Be self-motivated and self-directed
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, projects, and priorities
- Demonstrates empathy and discretion in all communications with MVLS volunteer attorneys, and staff promoting a collaborative and respectful workplace culture
- Handles responsibilities with discretion, empathy, and a compassionate approach tailored to individual client needs
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Education and Experience:
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Preference for at least 3 years experience in family law and in representing contested family law cases.
- Experience with nonprofits or legal services is a strong plus
- Demonstrated commitment through work experience, lived experience or volunteer experience to communities, such as: Children, Domestic workers, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and refugees, Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQ people, People of color, People with disabilities, People with HIV/AIDS, Sex workers, Victims of crime and abuse, and Women and girls.
