Managing Attorney (Hybrid)

Description:

Position Overview: LAM seeks an experienced, passionate, and community-centered attorney with a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice to serve as Managing Attorney. The Managing Attorney is a member of the senior leadership team, which reports to the Executive Director and includes the Programs Officer, Senior Policy Attorney, Business Manager, and Office Manager. The Managing Attorney is responsible for building and sustaining a direct legal services and impact litigation program that advances – at scale - the rights of low-income and otherwise marginalized Marin residents; implementing the strategic direction of LAM's legal services program; managing all staff attorneys and legal assistants; ensuring staff compliance with organizational policies and driving a culture of accountability and client-centered representation; meeting LAM's data collection requirements; supporting funder compliance (including grant reports and funder monitoring); and building and maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders, including clients, funders, judges, elected officials, organizational partners, members of the public, Board members, and Staff.
Essential Functions:
Managerial:

• Under the supervision of and reporting to the organization's Executive Director, advance LAM's mission by managing LAM's legal services program, which currently includes tenants' rights and homelessness prevention, consumer protection, workers' rights, estate planning, and fines and fees alleviation (Marin Community Court)
• In collaboration with the Executive Director and within funder requirements, determine case acceptance criteria, priority case areas, operational practices, and the strategic direction of LAM's legal services program;
• Maintain a sustainable legal services program, including refinement of intake procedures, case management practices, staff assignments, operational workflows, and organizational efficiencies; and
• Manage staff attorneys and legal assistants across all areas of LAM's legal services program, including onboarding and training, managing caseloads, oversight of casework, quality control, and performance evaluation.

Representation of Clients:

• With oversight from the Executive Director, maintain an appropriate caseload of complex matters in the areas of housing, employment law, and consumer protection that permits intensive work with clients and robust supervision of staff attorneys and legal assistants;
• Conduct client intake, legal research, legal writing, and drafting of pleadings;
• Appear before courts and enforcement bodies at hearings and trials on behalf of clients; and
• Incorporate staff attorneys into complex cases, hearings, and trials as second chair to provide opportunities for professional growth.

Compliance:

• Ensure organizational compliance with ethical rules and laws relating to representation of clients;
• Support organizational compliance with funder requirements, including data collection, grant reporting, point-in-time case numbers, demographics of clients served, timekeeping, and impact of legal services;
• Ensure staff compliance with organizational policies; and
• Implement policies and procedures set forth by the Programs Officer relating to data collection, reporting requirements, and strategic partnerships.

Workplace Culture:

• Help foster an empowering, collaborative, and supportive working environment; • Encourage staff to have ownership and accountability over the essential functions of their positions;
• Build capacity for leadership within existing staff and assist them in meeting their professional development goals;
• Strike a balance between oversight and autonomy; and
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, establish principles to advance a client-centered culture, including regular assessment of on-site staffing practices, outreach efforts, events in partnership with community-based social services organizations, and organizational structure.

Stakeholder Relations:

• Cultivate collegial and collaborative relationships with staff, clients, Board members, community members, funders, donors, elected officials, judges, community-based social services organizations, and all other stakeholders to maintain LAM's positive reputation; and
• In collaboration with the Programs Officer and Executive Director, support existing organizational partnerships and identify new strategic partnerships.

Required Qualifications:

• Commitment to the mission and vision of Legal Aid of Marin;
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and experience working with traditionally marginalized communities, including immigrants, BIPOC individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, people experiencing poverty, and people struggling with housing instability;
• Demonstrated commitment to client-centered lawyering, diversity, and uplifting marginalized communities;
• Member in good standing with the California State Bar;
• 5-10 years of full-time litigation experience;
• At least two (2) years supervising junior attorneys and legal assistants;
• Demonstrated experience in trial advocacy, including motions practice, oral argument, trial preparation, evidentiary rules, legal research and writing, citation methods, witness examination, and settlement negotiations;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
• Willingness to receive feedback, follow directives, implement goals of organizational leadership, and address areas for professional growth;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing, and collaborative environment;
• Valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, and car insurance; and
• Fluency in Spanish (very strongly preferred)

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