Managing Attorney

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is committed to delivering high-quality, high-volume legal services with excellence and integrity. The Managing Attorney plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the effective delivery of legal services by overseeing the work of substantive unit supervisors and supporting the Executive Director in overall program management.

This role requires the expertise and judgment of a seasoned attorney, as well as demonstrated skill in supervising and mentoring staff. The ideal candidate will bring strong interviewing and interpersonal abilities, sensitivity to client needs, and excellent writing, verbal communication, and organizational skills.

In addition to legal acumen, the Managing Attorney must possess strong leadership, administrative, and managerial capabilities to guide teams, support staff development, and help advance PLA’s mission of expanding access to justice.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• • Juris Doctor (J.D.) and active membership in the Pennsylvania Bar.
  • Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, preferably in legal services, public interest law, or a related field.
  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with demonstrated experience managing diverse legal teams.
  • Excellent organizational, time management, and attention-to-detail skills.
  • Strong negotiation skills and experience working in union workplace.
  • Willingness and ability to travel between PLA offices and partner locations as needed.
  • Availability to work on-site, five days per week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Oversight & Compliance

• • Oversee and evaluate casework managed by lead attorneys across all units.
  • Ensure full compliance with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations, PLA policies, and union agreements.
  • Monitor unit operations for alignment with organizational priorities and legal standards.

Program & Grants Management

• • Track the implementation of grants and ensure timely delivery of required outcomes.
  • Support unit-level grant reporting, compliance, and outreach efforts.
  • Assess and support the long-term sustainability of grant-funded programs.

Strategic Planning & Unit Oversight

• • Work closely with Unit Supervisors to define roles, optimize unit structure, and set strategic goals.
  • Conduct regular unit check-ins and quarterly performance meetings.
  • Guide the development of annual unit priorities aligned with PLA’s mission.

Staff Supervision & Performance Evaluation

• • Ensure timely, fair, and constructive performance evaluations for all legal staff.
  • Review and support the creation of Supervision Plans for all new hires within 90 days.
  • Set and monitor caseload expectations for attorneys and paralegals.
  • Partner with supervisors to enhance team productivity and performance.

Training & Professional Development

• • Co-lead staff onboarding, orientation, and mentorship initiatives.
  • Design and promote internal training and professional development opportunities.
  • Mentor attorneys and staff, especially around litigation, ethics, and client engagement.

Intake & Case Management

• • Evaluate and refine intake and screening systems for efficiency and accessibility.
  • Oversee improvements in case management and client service delivery.

Policy, Compliance & Operations

• • Review and strengthen internal policies on safety, technology, and operations.
  • Stay current with legal technology tools and ensure their effective use across the organization.

Executive & Administrative Support

• • Collaborate with the Executive Director and Fiscal Officer on staffing and resource allocation.
  • Act as the Executive Director’s designee for approving litigation expenses, appeals, and exceptions to client eligibility.
  • Assist in organization-wide strategic planning and management decisions.

Client & Staff Support

• • Address client concerns through PLA’s grievance process.
  • Provide ethical guidance and legal consultation to staff.
  • Serve as a resource for legal, procedural, and practice-related support.

Hiring & Organizational Development

• • Co-chair the Hiring Committee and ensure equitable and inclusive hiring practices.
  • Participate in recruitment, selection, and onboarding of new staff.

Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining

• • Serve as the lead negotiator for management during collective bargaining.
  • Implement the organization’s collective bargaining agreements and train managers on compliance.
  • Represent management in grievance processes and union-management committees.

External Relations & Fund Development

• • Identify and pursue new funding opportunities.
  • Support grant writing, reporting, and contract compliance.
  • Build and maintain partnerships with external stakeholders and the legal services community.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply. PLA does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, PLA complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume, preferably in one PDF document, to Diomand Henry at DiomandHenry@philalegal.org

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the position will be filled as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified.