Legal Aid DC 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.
Salary and Benefits
The attorney will be paid in accordance with Legal Aid's based on years of full-time legal experience. Lateral hires will receive credit for years of relevant work experience. Starting salaries are as follows:
Entry-level attorney just passing the bar: $71,054
Attorney with 3 years full-time legal work experience: $78,277
Attorney with 5 years full-time legal work experience: $85,852
Legal Aid generally provides two salary increases per year, depending on funding availability: a cost-of-living increase at the beginning of the year and a step increase in July.
Legal Aid offers a generous benefits package, including eligibility for fully paid health insurance, annual retirement match, 12 paid holidays, 20 days of annual leave per year and 15 days of sick leave per year.
Click here for full salary scale and additional benefits information.
This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320.
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.
Legal Aid values an inclusive, diverse workplace and encourages applications from interested persons from diverse backgrounds of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage applications from people with personal experience with the criminal justice system and/or with lived experiences in the communities we serve. Interested persons should submit a letter of interest and resume here: https://legalaiddc.bamboohr.com/hiring/jobs/150. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Position remains open until August 2, 2024. No emails or phone calls, please.