Managing Attorney

Overview

The Managing Attorney collaborates closely with the Executive Director to advance SALSA’s mission and is responsible for all legal issues and the management of SALSA’s legal programs, staff attorneys, and volunteer coordinators. This position safeguards the quality and ethical delivery of legal services, cultivates a collaborative culture, and ensures that pro bono volunteers have the tools they need to serve clients effectively. The Managing Attorney plays a pivotal leadership role—balancing high-level program development with case oversight and community engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Operations & Program Management

• Oversee all legal programs, clinics, and extended-representation matters handled by SALSA staff and volunteers.
• Ensure compliance with professional responsibility rules and grant funding requirements, including regular reporting required by grant funders.
• Assess program effectiveness, implement improvements, and expand services that align with community needs and SALSA’s mission.

– Maintain an individual caseload of in-person clinic responsibilities, modeling best practices, mentoring staff, and ensuring program continuity.

Staff Leadership & Development

– Recruit, onboard, supervise, and evaluate staff attorneys and volunteer coordinators, fostering professional growth and a collaborative workplace culture.

– Design and administer training, mentorship, and performance management systems to maintain high levels of competence and morale.

– Address human-resource matters in partnership with the Executive Director, ensuring compliance with labor laws and organizational policies.

Volunteer Engagement & Community Outreach

– Serve as a public ambassador for SALSA at panels, clinics, and community events, promoting pro bono service and cultivating long-term relationships with bar associations, law firms, and community organizations.

– Design, market, and implement volunteer recruitment, training, and recognition initiatives for private-practice lawyers, in-house counsel, government attorneys, law students, and other partners.

– Collaborate with the Executive Director and Communications & Outreach Manager to facilitate their integration into the stakeholder community, including local and statewide bar associations, private-practice lawyers, in-house counsel, government attorneys, law schools, and other partners.

• Support the Executive Director and Communication & Outreach manager in crafting compelling program messaging and stakeholder engagement.

Compliance, Quality Assurance & Case Oversight

– Supervise case management protocols to ensure accurate record-keeping, timely reporting to funders, and positive volunteer and client experiences.

– Establish and monitor best-practice standards for intake, referral, and representation consistent with Texas Access to Justice Foundation and other funding guidelines.

– Generate regular reports on program metrics, outcomes, and emerging legal trends affecting low-income communities.

Strategic Growth & Resource Development

– Partner with the Executive Director on grant applications, donor presentations, and budget planning to secure and manage resources for program expansion.

– Identify unmet legal needs in the community and develop innovative pro bono models to address them.

– Support board and executive leadership in strategic planning initiatives that advance SALSA’s long-term vision.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and active license to practice law in Texas (or eligibility to waive in).
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including at least 2 years supervising attorneys or legal staff.
• Demonstrated success in program development, case management, and/or clinical legal education.
• Track record of building effective teams and cultivating positive workplace cultures.
• Commitment to access-to-justice principles and comfort working with diverse and vulnerable populations.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional leadership, mentoring, and interpersonal abilities.
• Strong organizational skills with the capacity to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication, public-speaking, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, cloud-based case-management systems, and data analytics tools.
• Creative problem-solver who can operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, exempt position (35 hours per week) with medical, dental, and vision benefits; 401(k); generous paid time off; and professional development support. SALSA currently operates a hybrid work environment with in-office clinic and community obligations.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resumé, cover letter, and list of three professional references to hiring@sa-lsa.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. SALSA is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Job Announcement PDF

English & Spanish Preferred