Chief Attorney

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) seeks a creative and experienced leader to serve as its Chief Attorney for the Montgomery County office who will supervise, guide, and lead the office in its provision of high-quality legal services to low-income clients, as well as associated outreach and advocacy. In addition to supervising and mentoring valued staff, Chief Attorneys play a vital role in their communities as well as MLA’s organizational infrastructure, joining the Legal Department’s leadership team and guiding MLA’s work as a whole.

Responsibilities:

 Staff Supervision and Development

• Provide
• positive leadership, guidance, and supervision to an office of 25
• staff, including supervising attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, law
• graduates, and administrative staff, plus periodic law clerk and
• volunteer support;
• Guide the professional development of staff,
• including co-counseling of cases; reviewing substantive legal work;
• providing meaningful assessments and evaluation of staff and their
• advocacy efforts, compliance, caseloads, and productivity.;
• Conduct case reviews and assign cases to staff consistent with Maryland Legal Aid’s case acceptance guidelines;
• Oversee the administrative needs of the office, including scheduling, maintenance, and other ad hoc projects;
• Lead hiring efforts to attract talented staff who are committed to the mission and work of MLA;
• Build
• a cohesive, supportive team that works well with one another, develops
• objectives and priorities for the office, and maintains open
• communication;
• Ensure that effective, culturally responsive
• legal assistance is provided to low-income clients in an efficient,
• zealous, client-centered, and compassionate manner;
• Conduct impactful advocacy designed to address systemic problems affecting individuals and communities living in poverty;
• Encourage staff engagement with the community through outreach and education; 
• Identify and address staff training needs;
• Ensure that staff comply with required timekeeping and grant-reporting obligations;
• Likely
• carry a limited caseload commensurate with the Chief’s expertise and
• that accounts for managerial responsibilities for the office; and

Strategy and Leadership

• Participate in officewide, statewide, and potentially national task forces and advocacy efforts;
• Develop
• relationships and deep knowledge of the communities served by the
• office and the resources available to address client needs;
• Engage community leaders to create connections and enhance MLA’s reputation in the communities served;
• Cultivate effective relationships with the judiciary and private bar;
• Contribute to efforts to increase pro bono representation of clients;
• Participate in and further MLA’s strategic plan, including developing the office’s own plans that align with the plan;
• Ensure administrative and regulatory requirements are met;
• Serve on a statewide management team and strive to improve the overall quality of MLA’s service delivery throughout the state;
• Assist
• with the MLA’s resource development efforts, including but not limited
• to identifying possible funding sources, making presentations to
• funders, and drafting grant applications and progress reports; 
• Address client grievances.

The salary range for this position is $105,000 - $125,000, based on experience. In addition, MLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan, 4 weeks paid time off, paid sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, and more!