Director, Legal Services

Summary:

The Director of Legal Services will provide direct representation, community-based education and outreach, and advocacy for the housing rights of low-income community members. The Director is responsible for oversight of the legal services program and staff inclusive of a Staff Attorney, seasonal student clerks, and support personnel. The Director will oversee and provide zealous legal defense in housing cases, assist in grant writing and ensure grant reporting and compliance. This role requires thoughtful leadership, legal strategy, resource acquisition and development, advocacy, supervision, and the promotion of an inclusive and equitable professional working environment

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Client Representation:

• Maintains a caseload and directly represents clients in housing, estate planning, and foreclosure areas; provides consultation/advice on their rights and options in these areas
• Develops and implements preventive and remedial strategies to increase housing stability and ensure the protection and intergenerational longevity of home assets
• Advises Staff Attorney on complex legal matters
• Assumes responsibility and risk for the department's client case outcomes

Program Management and Leadership:

• Supports the professional development of legal services staff by providing guidance, support, mentorship, training, and technical assistance as necessary:
  
  
  
  • Ensures that performance evaluations are completed in a timely manner
  • Sets the standard for effective leadership by maintaining a high level of ethics, prudence, productivity, and professionalism
  • Manages employees in a positive manner, promoting accountability and working to address areas that need improvement through training and coaching
  
  
  
  
• Participates in St. Ambrose's strategic planning and implementation initiatives
• Provides ongoing assessment and evaluation of legal programs, implementing best practices where necessary to ensure that client needs, agency standards, grant compliance, and funding requirements are met
• Collaborates with other program departments, Oversees and strengthens the intake process, and develops referral processes to external agencies with a goal of maximizing client support relative to their needs and St. Ambrose capacity
• Ensures that grant reporting requirements are met, writing narratives and providing reports on client demographics and outcomes

Resource Development and Reporting

• Monitors major changes in the marketplace, both philanthropic and economic, and provides strategic direction based on that information
• Collaborates with the Resource Development Department to identify funding sources and to develop funding proposals

Outreach

• Represents St. Ambrose with external parties, including partners, public and elected officials, and community leaders
• Participate in activities and events to support awareness of St. Ambrose services and outreach to clients in need of St. Ambrose's legal services
• Prepares presentations, reports, and other materials for the Board as well as external audiences

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Certifications/Licensure:

• Juris Doctorate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association
• Admission to the Maryland Bar and in good standing with the Supreme Court of Maryland

Skills:

• Superior analytical, writing, and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated skill in understanding the legal needs of low-income clients.
• Ability to multitask, set priorities and guide team members to do so, and successfully manage time and meet deadlines

Professional Experience:

• Two to four years of related legal experience
• Experience guiding and leading others

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of applicable law practice, with experience in housing law, real estate law, foreclosure law, and/or litigation
• Experience working in a nonprofit setting and/or direct client services
• 3+ years in a staff supervisory role
• Familiarity with Social Solutions Apricot software platform or similar case management hardware/software platform

Qualities:

• An interest in and commitment to our mission, vision, & values
• A commitment to diversity and social justice issues
• Leadership
• Empathy
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to cultivate and maintain positive and productive relationships both internally and externally

Physical Requirements:

This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting, or performing other work requiring medium exertion, talking, and hearing on a regular basis to perform the job requirement. These physical demands are required up to 85% of the time.

St. Ambrose values a diverse workforce. EOE.