CO-MANAGING ATTORNEY, Domestic Violence Program MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

We believe that a life free of violence and abuse is a basic human right. Our mission is:

• To ADVOCATE for domestic violence victims, at-risk children, and other vulnerable individuals through comprehensive pro bono legal services;
• To EMPOWER victims with knowledge, resources, and on-going support; and
• To BROADEN OUR IMPACT by engaging, training, and supporting a strong and diverse network of volunteer lawyers and community volunteers.

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project (DCVLP) was established in 2008 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. In January of 2023, we launched Montgomery County Volunteer Lawyers Project (MCVLP), an Initiative of DCVLP. MCVLP operates out of the Family Justice Center in Rockville, Maryland, where we engage, train and support dedicated volunteer attorneys to handle emergency protection order and family law cases on behalf of low income victims of domestic violence in Montgomery County. We operate a weekly walk-in domestic violence legal clinic at the Rockville Memorial Library where individuals can seek our services. Our team includes a Program Coordinator and a Client Advocate, who provides non-legal support services including social services referrals, crisis support, and safety planning. More information at www.dcvlp.org. We are seeking a Co-Managing Attorney to join our team.

WHY YOU WANT THIS JOB:

• You believe that a life free from violence and abuse is a basic human right.
• You are looking for a job that matters.
• You have demonstrated commitment to working with vulnerable populations and you want to use your law degree to provide marginalized individuals with access to high quality legal services.
• You are a self-starter, flexible, and find the idea of growing a new program intriguing and exciting as we launch our volunteer model and grow our Maryland operations.

WHAT THIS JOB WILL ENTAIL:

• In partnership with our leadership team, help supervise the Domestic Violence Program in Montgomery County, including MCVLPs Montgomery County clinic and MCVLPs Montgomery County domestic violence case operations.
• Provides strategic, programmatic, and budget input to organizational leadership.
• Collaborate with onsite providers at the Family Justice Center to facilitate legal representation of domestic violence victims in peace order and family court cases.
• Represent DCVLP with stakeholders, partner agencies, Montgomery County Judiciary and Bar.
• Together with our team, oversee client referrals and volunteer lawyer assignment process for cases in Montgomery County.
• Provide technical expertise on individual cases.
• Supervise volunteer lawyers on cases, including providing in-court supervision, reviewing written documents prior to filing, and one-on-one mentoring.
• Occasionally provide direct representation to clients when unable to secure volunteer attorney.
• Develop and lead trainings for volunteer lawyers and partner organizations, as needed.

Other Duties and Responsibilities: Other relevant duties as assigned. NOTE: This description is not an attempt to list all essential functions of this position as it is recognized that job duties may change over time, based on DCVLPs needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• You are admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland.
• You have 5 or more years of experience in domestic violence and/or family law practice in Montgomery County Court. Experience working with domestic violence victims and/or trauma survivors is a plus.
• You have experience in building infrastructure for and managing legal programs
• You have experience supervising junior level attorneys or volunteer lawyers (preferred).
• You are proficient in Spanish, French, Amharic, and/or Mandarin (preferred).

SALARY and BENEFITS: DCVLP has a positive and supportiv work environment with an intentional focus on recruiting, nurturing, and retaining a talented and diverse staff. We prioritize a healthy work-life balance. The salary for this position is $87,500. Employees receive 90% employer-paid health and dental insurance and vision insurance is also available. DCVLP sponsors a 403(b) retirement plan with a 4% employer contribution. DCVLP also provides a tax-free stipend of $75 each month for personal cell phone and Wi-Fi expenses. Employees receive generous paid time off every year, including three weeks of vacation, three weeks of wellness leave, and 13 holidays. We offer a generous family leave policy for parents following the birth or adoption of a child or placement of a foster child. DCVLP employees are also eligible to participate in the federal governments Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. For more information, see https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service. And DCVLP attorneys are eligible to participate in the DC Bar Foundations Loan Repayment Assistance Program. For more information, see www.dcbarfoundation.org/lrap.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB: In addition to the functional skills in this job posting, the following physical abilities are representative of physical demands and environment essential to this position:

• Regular attendance at DCVLPs Maryland office, community legal clinics, and outreach events are required.
• Ability to travel to community locations.
• The work environment has moderate noise (i.e., business office with computers, phone, printers, and light traffic).

TO APPLY: DCVLP has a non-discrimination policy and encourages all interested and qualified applicants to apply regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or other status protected by applicable law. Interested applicants should send a letter of intent and a resume to Sara Tennen at jobs@dcvlp.org.