Community Education Outreach Specialist | BASTA

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) seeks an experienced attorney to serve as the Group Coordinator for our Domestic Violence & Family Law practice area. This role is pivotal in leading TRLA’s mission to deliver exceptional civil legal services in family law matters, primarily focusing on providing trauma-informed, client-centered representation to survivors of family violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Group Coordinator will oversee a team dedicated to client advocacy and collaboration with community partners, ensuring that our clients receive the support and justice they deserve.

Staff in this group also work on:

Family Defense Project – Providing legal representation to parents encountering the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ Child Protective Investigations (CPI) or Child Protective Services (CPS).

Bi-National Project on Family Violence – Assisting low-income survivors of family violence seeking to secure safety for themselves and their children.

Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA) - A network of attorneys trained in providing trauma-informed, client-centered legal services to survivors of sexual assault.

The Shelter Project – A partnership with rape crisis centers, shelters, and other agencies and organizations that provide direct services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking

In this role, you will have the opportunity to directly influence the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals and families across the TRLA service area. Your leadership will ensure that survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking receive the legal protection they need to rebuild their lives.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The Domestic Violence and Family Law Team Group Coordinator will guide the direction and smooth operation of the practice area. Responsibilities will include ensuring the provision of high-quality legal services in both direct representation brief service cases as well as extended litigation, supervising practice area teams, and managing administrative processes to optimize efficiency, effectiveness, and program compliance. Primary duties and responsibilities of this position include:

• Overseeing the legal work of the Team Managers, teams and projects within the Domestic Violence & Family Law Group;
• Supervising and providing support to the practice area Team Managers and Project Directors;
• Reviewing caseloads to ensure that there is balance among team managers, staff, and teams;
• Providing mentoring and supervising onboarding for group members and Team Managers;
• Coordinating with intake and data staff to ensure qualified, priority applicants can access intake;
• Reviewing intake disposition decisions on a regular basis to assure that equitable treatment is extended to all clients and that disposition decisions are made in a manner that is consistent with TRLA policies and priorities;
• Reviewing all significant cases on a regular basis to assure that the quality and timeliness of legal work by team members is maintained;
• Enforcing funding regulations and program policies;
• Assisting Grants in grant applications, budgets, and grant compliance;
• Maintaining coordinated communications among teams on case developments, co-counsel assignments, and developments in the law in the practice areas through regular meetings and/or conference calls and email or other written materials;
• Preparing routine forms and default legal advice, developing modules and procedures, and making recommendations for other improvements to TRLA’s client tracking system that enhance the efficiency of program operations;
• Monitoring and reviewing changes in laws, and coordinating forums to review such changes;
• Collaborating with Private Attorney Involvement Project to promote placement of priority cases with pro bono and contract attorneys;
• Analyzing case trends and issues affecting clients;
• Disciplining employee team members, when case-related;
• Responding to quality-of-service client grievances after receiving same from a Team Manager within the Coordinator’s group; Responding to team member’s substantive complaints if not resolved by the Team Manager;
• Evaluating team managers and employee team members;
• Maintaining a public relations role with the bar, community, and client organizations, representing TRLA in appropriate matters; and,
• Taking all actions necessary or appropriate to bring group resources to bear on the legal problems of clients, in a manner that is consistent with program rules and policies.

Qualifications and Preferences:

Required:

• Licensed to practice law in Texas.
• Experience working with victims of domestic violence and family law.
• Courtroom and litigation experience.
• Commitment to providing trauma-informed, survivor-centered services.
• Experience and/or demonstrated commitment to working with trauma survivors and/or marginalized communities (e.g. LGBTQ+, communities of color, people with disabilities, minors)
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to implement systems to ensure compliance and meet deadlines.

Preferred:

• Experience in staff management or supervisory roles.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice; knowledge of TRLA’s service delivery model.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary is commensurate with experience. TRLA offers an excellent benefits package, including law school loan repayment, generous paid leave, healthcare, retirement plans, and training & travel stipends.

TRLA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

At TRLA, we are committed to offering fair and equal employment opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.