Staff Attorney, Family & Domestic Violence Law Unit

Legal Aid of the District of Columbia 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 hasthree 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 willparticipatein community outreach,interview prospective clients, and mayengage in systemic reform efforts. LegalAids attorneys primarily work out of our NW office but may also work out of Legal Aids community office in SE.DV/Family Law staff attorneys alsohelp staff one or more of theDistrictstwo Domestic Violence Intake Centers in NW at the DCSuperior Courthouse and in SE at the Big Chair office complex in Anacostia , the Child Support Resource Centerand the Family Law Assistance Network courthouse project officesat DC Superior Court.

Note: Legal Aid is currently operating on a hybrid work plan. Some in-person work is required, both in Legal Aids 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 barisrequired.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Strong litigation, organizational, communication, and leadershipskills;
• The ability to workskillfully, both independently andcollaboratively withteams;
• A demonstrated commitment toracial,social,andeconomicjustice;
• Ability to multi-task and prioritizeassignments;
• 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 Aids client community)arestrongly preferredbut notrequired.

Salary and Benefits

The attorney will be paidin accordance withLegal Aid'spolicybased on years offull-time legal experience.Lateral hires will receive credit for years of relevant workexperience. Starting salaries are as follows:

• Entry-level attorney just passing the bar: starting at $62,974
• Attorney with3yearsfull-time legal workexperience: starting at$70,334
• Attorney with5yearsfull-time legal workexperience: starting at$78,825
• Attorney with10 yearsfull-time legal workexperience: starting at $91,676

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 includes fully paid health insurance (for the employee), annual discretionary retirement match, 12 paid holidays, three personal days and generous annual and sick leave allotments starting at15 daysof vacation and 15 days of sick leave per year.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320.

To Apply

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 are encouraged to apply immediately and should submit a letter of interest and resume. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Position remains open until filled.Pleasesubmitcoverletter and resumehere.No emails or phone calls, please.