Description:
A Civil Legal Aid Organization seeks a Staff Attorney for its Domestic Violence and Family Law Unit.Since 1932, Legal Aid has provided civil legal assistance to clients in individual cases and engaged in systemic reform. Currently, we provide individual representation in consumer law, domestic violence/family law, housing, public benefits, and appellate matters. We also work on immigration matters and help individuals with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. From the experiences of our clients, we identify opportunities for law reform, public policy advocacy, and systemic impact and appellate litigation.
Legal Aid believes that meaningful pursuit of our anti-poverty mission requires an unwavering commitment to racial justice and equity. We aspire both to reflect the rich racial diversity of the communities we serve and to value, respect, and empower our staff and clients to be effective agents of change. For more information about Legal Aid please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org.
Responsibilities:
The DV/Family Law Unit has three supervising attorneys, thirteen staff attorneys, two legal assistants, and one intake specialist. The staff attorney will handle a caseload of Civil Protection Order, custody, child support, and divorce cases. In addition to an active litigation docket, the staff attorney will participate in community outreach, interview prospective clients, and may engage in systemic reform efforts. Legal Aid's attorneys primarily work out of our NW office but may also work out of Legal Aid's community office in SE. DV/Family Law staff attorneys also help staff one or more of the District's two Domestic Violence Intake Centers – in NW at the DC Superior Courthouse and in SE at the “Big Chair” office complex in Anacostia –, the Child Support Resource Center and the Family Law Assistance Network courthouse project offices at DC Superior Court.
Note: Legal Aid is currently operating on a hybrid work plan. Some in-person work is required, both in Legal Aid's main offices and at our project locations, as well as for in-person hearings.
Required Skills and Experience:
Membership or eligibility for membership in the DC bar is required.?
The ideal candidate will have the following:
- Strong litigation, organizational, communication, and leadership skills;
- The ability to work skillfully, both independently and collaboratively with teams;
- A demonstrated commitment to racial, social, and economic justice;
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize assignments;
- Experience in legal services preferred, ideally with a background in DV/family law; and
- Bilingual skills (in Spanish, Amharic, or another language prevalent in Legal Aid's client community) are strongly preferred but not required.
