Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary: $68,000 with benefits
Location: Washington, DC, with hybrid arrangements
Reports to: Probate Supervising Attorney
Deadline: Applications received by Friday, February 14, 2025 will be given highest priority.
At DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF),we believe everyone deserves access to justice and that income should never be a barrier to a family’s receipt of high-quality legal representation. DCALF delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation and fills critical gaps by using innovative programming to expand access to justice and empower lower-income community members with unmet legal needs. DCALF provides a wide-range of no-cost and low-cost family law, probate, estate planning, and immigration legal services to DC residents and individuals navigating DC legal issues. We are fiercely dedicated to leveling the playing field and ensuring historically underserved clients can tackle some of life’s most daunting legal issues with a lawyer by their side.
DCALF is one of two nonprofit organizations leading the District of Columbia’s first Heirs’ Property Assistance Program to provide probate representation and assistance to individuals navigating probate, or the multi-phased process of clearing title to property following the death of a loved one. Through this work – and DCALF’s expanded probate practice – DCALF helps families preserve and protect intergenerational homes and secure clear access to the assets and possessions loved ones have left behind. Beyond probate, DCALF proactively empowers individuals and families by providing access to the estate planning tools and services that allow them to establish legacies and plan for the future. DCALF’s estate planning practice aims to ensure estate planning is not a tool reserved only for those with wealth; rather, we work alongside individuals and families to make estate planning accessible for all, memorializing choices regarding their health and wealth, and guarding against continuing heirs’ property issues.
Position Overview: DCALF seeks an attorney to focus on increasing access to justice in probate and estate planning matters. The Probate & Estate Planning Staff Attorney will join DCALF’s nine-person Probate & Estate Planning team and engage in direct representation, advice, and advocacy on behalf of DCALF clients and community members. The direct representation of clients primarily includes representing personal representatives probating their loved one's estates and helping individuals draft proactive estate plans for their incapacity and after death. DCALF's probate practice includes representation of heirs and third-parties seeking estate administration assistance. This position will also involve community outreach and education to expand awareness of our probate and estate planning, mechanisms for avoiding heirs’ property and probate, and how effective planning can benefit DC residents. While a background in probate, future planning, elder law, accounting, or real estate law is preferred, the Staff Attorney position does not require a background in any of these areas, but, instead, a willingness and ability to learn and gain mastery of probate and estate planning. This position is an exciting opportunity on the frontlines of a burgeoning area of law working to preserve individuals’ homes and assets and increase intergenerational wealth for modest- and lower-income DC families.
The Staff Attorney will be supported, supervised and mentored, yet will also have the opportunity for independent work and collaboration. The selected candidate must be highly organized, adept at interviewing and interacting with persons from diverse backgrounds, has a strong sense of empathy and professionalism, is able to work independently to meet time-sensitive deliverables, and is committed to supporting our organization’s race equity initiatives. The Staff Attorney will manage their own full caseload and maintain timekeeping, data, and case files consistent with organizational policies. In addition to casework and community outreach, the Staff Attorney will serve as a leader within the organization, offering informal mentorship and support to fellows in DCALF’s 15-month post-graduate fellowship program. The Staff Attorney will participate in all case rounds and staff meetings, follow and enhance organizational policies and procedures, and report to the Probate & Estate Planning Managing Attorney.
This job description is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the position or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.
Qualifications
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification upon hire.
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary: $68,000 with benefits
Location: Washington, DC, with hybrid arrangements
Reports to: Probate Supervising Attorney
Deadline: Applications received by Friday, February 14, 2025 will be given highest priority.
At DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF),we believe everyone deserves access to justice and that income should never be a barrier to a family’s receipt of high-quality legal representation. DCALF delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation and fills critical gaps by using innovative programming to expand access to justice and empower lower-income community members with unmet legal needs. DCALF provides a wide-range of no-cost and low-cost family law, probate, estate planning, and immigration legal services to DC residents and individuals navigating DC legal issues. We are fiercely…
This is a full-time salaried, exempt position. DCALF offers the following benefits:
The starting annual salary for this position for a candidate with one year of experience is $68,000 with additional compensation based on years of relevant experience, up to a current maximum of $86,000/per year. In addition, this position is eligible for DCALF’s Spanish Language stipend of $2,500 annually for a candidate with a demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.
Through employment with DCALF, attorneys may also be eligible for the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) offered through the DC Bar Foundation (DCBF). The DCBF’s LRAP provides one-year, interest-free, forgivable loans of up to $12,000 per year to qualified attorneys.
DC Affordable Law Firm is a 501(c)(3) organization. Employees with federal student loan debt may apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. For more information, visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.
This is a full-time salaried, exempt position. DCALF offers the following benefits:
The starting annual salary for this position for a candidate with one year of experience is $68,000 with additional compensation based on years of relevant experience, up to a current maximum of $86,000/per year. In addition, this position is eligible for DCALF’s Spanish Language stipend of $2,500 annually for a candidate with a demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.
Through employment with DCALF, attorneys may also be eligible for the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) offered…
This position is eligible for DCALF’s Spanish Language stipend of $2,500 annually for a candidate with a demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.
This position is eligible for DCALF’s Spanish Language stipend of $2,500 annually for a candidate with a demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample of no more than 5 pages to hiring@dcaffordablelaw.org with the subject line “PROBATE & EP STAFF ATTORNEY [first initial, last name].” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No calls will be accepted regarding this posting. For best consideration, please apply by the end of February 2025. Early applications are encouraged.
DC Affordable Law Firm is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. DCALF strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sex (specifically including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, unhoused status, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation political affiliation, tobacco use, credit information, status as unemployed, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample of no more than 5 pages to hiring@dcaffordablelaw.org with the subject line “PROBATE & EP STAFF ATTORNEY [first initial…