Director of Legal Services

Director of Legal Services

(Full-Time, Exempt Position)

Inner City Law Center is a nonprofit, poverty-law firm working to end the homeless crisis by providing free legal services to the poorest and most vulnerable residents of Los Angeles. Located in Skid Row, our staff of 140 (including 75 lawyers) together with hundreds of volunteers, fight to keep tenants threatened with homelessness in their homes and move those already on the streets into safe and stable housing. ICLC was founded on the fundamental principle that every person should always be treated with dignity and respect. Our staff help people facing eviction, struggling with landlord harassment, fighting to secure their veteran or disability benefits, or standing up to slum housing conditions. Last year, ICLC served over 3,000 clients and recovered over $20 million for those clients. Inner City Law Center is committed to having a diverse staff and an equitable and inclusive workplace.

Position Description: The Director of Legal Services is a member of ICLC’s Executive Team and has primary responsibility for ensuring that ICLC provides high-quality legal services; that ICLC’s programs are impactful, efficient, client-centered, and evaluated; that all program deliverables are met; and that our legal representation is consistent with ICLC’s values, vision, and strategic goals. The Director of Legal Services directly supervises the leaders of multiple ICLC program teams that provide direct legal services to clients.

Responsibilities:

• Directing, supervising, supporting, managing, hiring, training, motivating, counseling and annually evaluating Project Directors to ensure that they:
• Effectively lead and manage diverse teams in an equitable and inclusive manner.
• Understand the interplay between staffing, funding, and caseloads.
• Develop, implement, and manage team goals, objectives, work plans and policies.
• Effectively manage staffing, funding, and cases, develop and manage budgets, meet grant deliverables and other target metrics, ensure effective case management, and report accurate results and client outcomes.
• Support a healthy, work environment that promotes effective legal representation, professional development, open communication, and accountability.
• Develop and retain high-performing staff by properly directing, supervising, supporting, managing, hiring, training, motivating, counseling and annually evaluating legal advocates and legal support staff.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with program funders and funding agencies; ensure flow of information moves between departments and to executive leadership for effective advocacy and program improvement efforts.
• Partnering with ICLC’s Pro Bono Director to develop relationships with pro bono counsel at some of the highest-profile law firms in the city and with Project Directors to effectively leverage pro bono resources.
• Partnering with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Director of Program Operations to identify and support cross program initiatives that improve integration of systems, tracking of client data, and quality of client services and experience.
• Partnering with the COO to ensure that ICLC’s commitment to DEI is infused in every facet of ICLC’s programs.
• Partnering with the Chief Financial Officer in the annual budgeting process.
• Partnering with policy, strategic initiatives, development, and operations departments.
• Serving as an ICLC ambassador to community partners and government agencies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Hiring Criteria: J.D. and admitted to practice law in the State of California or elsewhere. At least ten years of relevant experience, including at least three years of direct management and supervision experience Effective at leading and managing a diverse team in an equitable and inclusive manner. Organized, detail oriented, and able to assume responsibility quickly and independently. Creative, strategic, and solution-oriented problem solver. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Commitment to ICLC’s mission and values. Committed to equity, diversity, and racial justice. Strong research, writing, and analytical skills. Access to reliable transportation.

Compensation: Annual compensation ranges from $130,000 - $160,000 per year and is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits.

How to Apply: Cover letters and resumes are reviewed upon receipt and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, please upload your resume and cover letter detailing interest in the position directly to our website at https://innercitylaw.org/apply/. Applications will not be considered if both resume and cover letter are not provided. 

Inner City Law Center is committed to having a diverse staff and an equitable and inclusive workplace. To read our full DEI Statement, please click here.

ICLC is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, disability, marital status, or medical condition. All qualified applicants with criminal histories shall be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

To keep our staff and clients safe, ICLC requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and undergo TB testing upon hire.