What are the responsibilities and job description for the Managing Attorney position at Casa Myrna?
Managing Attorney
Casa Myrna is Greater Boston’s foremost provider of solutions to end domestic and dating violence. The agency operates three residential programs in Boston for survivors and children made homeless by domestic violence, a comprehensive range of advocacy and supportive services, and SafeLink, Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 toll-free domestic violence hotline. Casa Myrna believes that every relationship should be safe and healthy, and works to end domestic and dating violence through education, awareness and prevention.
The Legal Advocacy Program currently serves survivors by representing them in domestic violence-related family law, abuse prevention, and immigration matters in Greater Boston; offering brief service and legal advocacy where representation is not provided; and managing a Legal HelpLine for telephone assistance and intake purposes. The Managing Attorney coordinates and oversees the services provided by the Legal Advocacy Program and provides direct legal services to Casa Myrna participants.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides direct services and coordinates the services provided by Legal Advocacy Program staff in order to meet the varied needs of Casa Myrna participants.
- Recruits, supervises, trains and mentors the Legal Advocacy Program staff attorneys, legal advocates, and student interns to ensure that they are responsive to the needs of survivors and performing at their best.
- Provides legal services to Casa Myrna program participants, community clients, and Legal HelpLine callers in abuse prevention, family law and/or immigration law matters. This includes providing legal consultations, brief services, limited and full representation with the goals of educating survivors about their options, helping them make their own informed decisions, and minimizing the risk of outcomes that jeopardize safety and well-being.
- Leads the evaluation and strategic planning of the Legal Advocacy Program’s services and makes adjustments in service delivery, as needed, to ensure clients’ needs are met to the greatest extent possible.
- Coordinates the Legal Advocacy Program’s participation in Casa Myrna agency-wide meetings and committees regarding the needs of residential and non-residential program participants.
- Represents the agency in interagency collaborations and with donors/funders.
- Stewards relationships with existing and new legal partners, funders and other stakeholders.
- Trains Casa Myrna staff, student interns and volunteers regarding domestic violence and the law as well as the experiences of survivors in the legal system.
- Provides other lawyers and service providers with training and technical assistance on topics like domestic violence and the law, the dynamics of domestic violence and the experiences of those affected by abuse, and supporting survivors through legal processes.
- Oversees data collection efforts and systems, and compiles program statistics and progress reports for funders and stakeholders.
- Coordinates the Legal Advocacy Program’s budget and funding streams.
- Coordinates Casa Myrna’s maintenance of legal professional liability insurance.
- Develops own professional development plan and attends trainings, meetings, and conferences within Casa Myrna and in the community.
- Performs additional duties assigned by the Chief Programs Officer and Chief Executive Officer.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Committed to Casa Myrna’s mission of ending domestic and dating violence and commercial sexual exploitation, and promoting social justice and social change.
- J.D. degree; admission to and good standing in the Massachusetts bar required.
- Fluency in a second language strongly preferred (Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole); bi-cultural preferred.
- 5 years’ experience in providing legal services to survivors of trauma, abuse and/or exploitation in family law and/or immigration matters.
- Experience managing lawyers and/or law students.
- Experience in teaching, training, and supervision.
- Familiarity with Greater Boston District and Probate & Family Courts, local legal services providers, law schools, community agencies, and other resources.
- Demonstrated ability to utilize appropriate, non-judgmental communication techniques when responding to survivors that illustrates sensitivity to their experiences and needs. Prior experience interviewing and counseling survivors of trauma and abuse required.
- Ability to work and advocate in a collaborative style with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic groups, as well as diversity based on ability/disability, sexual orientation and religion.
- Computer literacy and strong data entry skills.
- Ability to work independently and in a team.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
- Strong preference for candidates who identify as a member of a marginalized community as Casa Myrna works to be an inclusive and equitable organization.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, crisis management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Promotes an atmosphere of respect and cooperation; maintains confidentiality regarding program participants.
- Models and maintains professional boundaries with callers, clients, and colleagues.
Salary: $76,000-$81,000
Location: Boston (Dorchester)
Hours: full-time (4 days and 35 hours/week)
Benefits: Casa Myrna offers: family friendly schedule; generous paid time off and holidays; health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance; flexible spending account; health reimbursement account; retirement savings plan with employer match; Employee Assistance Program; and opportunities for professional development
Casa Myrna is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity and hiring people with diverse life experiences. Survivors, people who are bilingual/bicultural, persons of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA people are strongly encouraged to apply.
The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. If reasonable accommodations are needed during recruitment process, email hr@casamyrna.org.
Salary : $76,000 - $81,000
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