Volunteer and Pro Bono Coordinator

Organization Overview: 

Colorado Legal Service (CLS) is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program, with thirteen offices providing civil legal assistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. For 100 years, CLS has strengthened lives, assisted families, and supported communities-one person at a time. We offer free legal assistance in a wide array of areas, including family law, public benefits, eviction defense, consumer protection, services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking, and more. Our commitment is to provide high-quality, free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado, aiming for substantive, transformational change in the lives of those we serve. 

Position Summary: 

Colorado Legal Serivces seeks a dedicated part-time Volunteer and Pro Bono Coordinator to join our team in the Denver office. The Volunteer and Pro Bono Coordinator will conduct the recruitment, selection, and assignment of volunteers including pro bono attorneys, law students, interns, and others (including “low-bono" contract attorneys) to specialty units in the Denver office and will serve as a connector for volunteers and interns throughout the state. In addition, the Volunteer and Pro Bono Coordinator is responsible for providing initial volunteer training and providing ongoing technical assistance and support. The Volunteer Coordinator will maintain relationships with law schools, law firms, and community partners to collaborate on community projects and recruit volunteers.  

Essential Duties: 

• Planning: Survey all legal and supporting activities of the Denver office to identify appropriate opportunities for volunteer utilization and identify suitable sources of volunteers and contract attorneys. Identify appropriate opportunities for the volunteer team (including pro bono attorneys, law students, interns, and others) to contribute.  
• Volunteer Recruitment and Retention: Coordinate public relations outreach to recruit interns, volunteers, pro bono attorneys, and contract attorneys with support of the Communications Director and Director of People and Culture. Maintain contact with law firms, law schools and other sources and create job descriptions for volunteer interns, law students, and other volunteers.  
• Oversee summer intern recruitment and selection process: Recruit and place summer law student interns statewide.  
• Interviewing: Review applications from volunteer applicants and collect information about skill set, availability, and relevant experience.  
• On-boarding and off-boarding: Maintain a general volunteer handbook and work cooperatively with staff to incorporate unit-specific guidelines. Coordinate onboarding with supervising attorneys in a streamlined manner. Ensure pro bono attorneys, law students, interns, contract attorneys, and others are offboarded correctly and with thanks at the end of their time at CLS.  
• Training: Provide orientation for new volunteers and contract attorneys. Develop and produce additional training sessions to enhance volunteer experience and address special needs. 
• Coordination of Volunteers: Coordinate placements of pro bono attorneys, law students, interns, contract attorneys, and others with supervising attorneys and other management staff. Maintain volunteer records and statistics. 
• Supervision of Volunteers: Supervising pro bono attorneys, law students, contract attorneys, interns, and other volunteers is primarily the responsibility of the Supervising Attorney of the Unit. The Volunteer Coordinator will keep in contact with the supervisor to check the volunteer's progress. If there are difficulties, the Volunteer Coordinator will work to mediate a solution. 
• Communication: Keep new and existing volunteers informed about Colorado Legal Services, our mission, and relevant policies and procedures. Ensure volunteers feel valued, supported, and connected. 
• Recognition: Facilitate regular celebrations and recognitions, including for National Volunteer Week and other recognition opportunities. Identify opportunities for volunteers to take on leadership roles and responsibilities. 
• Evaluations: Work with supervising attorneys to provide evaluations and feedback to volunteers. Respond to requests for letters of recommendation and law school and bar exam forms. 
• Internal Collaboration: Participate in weekly Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) team meetings facilitated by the Statewide Private Attorney Involvement Coordinator and contribute to statewide PAI projects with other pro bono coordinators as needed and appropriate. 
• Management: Collaborate with Denver Supervising Attorneys and organizational leadership to integrate the organization’s planning and goal setting into the mission of the volunteer program. Work with the Statewide Private Attorney Involvement Coordinator to promote the program's statewide objectives. 
• Community Engagement: Foster ongoing relationships with community partners, law schools, volunteers, and the private bar, strategizing for the advocacy of low-income populations. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.  
• Communication skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage compassionately with applicants and colleagues. Must maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and engage in active listening and attention to detail. 
• Technological Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Expertise in navigating email platforms such as Outlook for effective communication and organization. Experienced in using video conferencing tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet for remote meetings and collaboration. Be familiar with collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams for team communication and project management. Skilled in working with spreadsheets, databases, and file-sharing tools for organizing and analyzing information. Capable of quickly learning and adapting to new technologies, including online phone systems, case management software, and other remote communication platforms. 
• Experience: Volunteer or client service experience, preferably with low-income, non-English speaking, or other vulnerable communities. Sensitivity to the problems of the poor is essential. 
• Teamwork and Independence: Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, organizing time effectively while managing multiple tasks and deadlines with a high level of attention to detail. 
• Sensitivity: Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of low-income individuals, seniors, non-English speakers, and people with disabilities, and a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles in serving diverse and marginalized communities. 
• Commitment: A strong commitment to justice and ensuring access to justice for all individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Education: Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) preferred. 
• Bilingual: Proficiency in written and oral Spanish. 
• Legal Knowledge: Experience and familiarity with the legal system. 
• Experience: Prior experience in legal services, volunteer coordination, or nonprofit work. At least 3-5 years of customer service or public interaction experience, particularly with low-income or other vulnerable communities. 
• Technological Skills: Experience with graphic design software (Canva, Adobe Designs, etc.)

Compensation and Benefits:

CLS offers a generous benefits plan that includes 100% employer paid premiums for employee health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance as well as partial employer paid premiums for spouses/dependents, based on a sliding scale. CLS also offers Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, a matching 403(b) retirement account, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Additionally, CLS offers generous paid time-off (sick and annual accruals), personal days, and 13 paid holidays per year. CLS values its employees’ commitment to working hard for the population it serves and recognizes the importance of work/life balance; therefore, we offer flexible work schedules and hybrid work arrangements as appropriate. We promote and foster a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and psychologically safe work environment, striving to be a “Best Place to Work” in Colorado. CLS is a unionized program with a collective bargaining agreement.  

How to Apply: 

Please use the "Apply for This Job" link for this job opening on our careers page. We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this position or any other positions at Colorado Legal Services, contact Karen Masciulli Vilner, Director of People and Culture, at kvilner@colegalserv.org. Applications will be accepted through March 11th, 2025. 

Please no solicitations from recruitment firms. 

Our Commitment to Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging.

CLS embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as an Equal Opportunity Employer in a serious way. We are committed to building and retaining a workforce that respects and seeks to empower each individual and represents a variety of diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences within our workforce. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply for this position. 

Salary : $60,000