Staff Attorney, Family Law

The Staff Attorney, Family Law, provides legal counsel and representation to eligible litigants through the Family Law Assistance Network (FLAN) in the Domestic Relations Branch of the DC Superior Court. This role also facilitates the placement of qualifying litigants with pro bono attorneys for full representation and serves as a mentor to volunteer attorneys handling family law cases. Additionally, the Staff Attorney leads and organizes training sessions for both attorneys and non-attorneys, conducts community outreach, and develops family law resources. This position also supports DC Bar Pro Bono Clinics as needed. This is a grant-funded position. Continued employment may be impacted by continued grant funding.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Provides same-day legal services through the Family Law Assistance Network (FLAN) to qualifying parents or third-party caregivers with cases in the Domestic Relations Branch of DC Superior Court (both remote and in-person).

•    Provides legal advice, limited scope representation, and full representation to qualifying litigants in family law matters.

•    Updates and drafts new materials for self-represented litigants and responds to and maintains records of requests for materials or information. 

•    Provides substantive guidance, mentoring, training, and outreach to volunteer attorneys, law students, and paralegals.

•    Develops, selects, and compiles training and other resource materials.

•    Refers appropriate matters to the Pro Bono Center’s Advocacy & Justice Clinic as well as other area legal services providers.

•    Through the Pro Bono Center’s Advocacy & Justice, provides mentoring and feedback on substantive legal issues to pro bono attorneys.

•    Identifies emerging issues, develops recommendations, and designs and implements new programs and projects. 

•    Represents the Pro Bono Center with the court, administrative agencies, other legal services providers, and community-based organizations.

•    Collaborates with other Pro Bono Center clinics and projects involving family law matters and partners with other legal services providers. 

•    Provides community outreach, legal education, and/or “Know Your Rights” trainings to prospective clients and community members. 

•    Drafts forms, pleadings, reports, correspondence, notices, and other documents. 

•    Assists in preparing reports for internal reporting and grant reporting. 

•    Facilitates improvements in the Pro Bono Center’s case management system. 

•    Supports other Pro Bono Center clinics as needed.

•    Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•    A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. 

•    An active member of the District of Columbia Bar and in good standing. 

•    Active practice experience in D.C., including extensive experience handling family law (custody, child support, and/or divorce) cases. 

•    Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and Legal Server.

•    Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working environment.

•    Excellent interpersonal skills. Must work well in a team environment and be able to interact with clients, the public, Bar members, volunteers, and staff. 

•    Excellent organizational and oral and written communication skills; must be adaptable, creative and self-motivated, and must be able to work with minimal supervision. 

•    Must work well under pressure, possess excellent organizational abilities, and able to manage several priorities in a day.

•    Must be detail oriented and deadline driven.

•    Ability to handle and maintain the confidentiality of highly sensitive information.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

•    Experience handling a variety of poverty law matters (housing, public benefits, consumer, and/or other civil legal issues).

•    Experience with a legal services organization that provides legal services to indigent individuals.  

•    Experience working with volunteers.

•    Experience working with domestic violence cases.

•    Proficiency in Spanish.

***Please submit a resume, cover letter, and two (2) writing samples.***  Applications without the required resume, cover letter, and two (2) writing samples will not be reviewed.

This is a grant-funded position. Continued employment may be impacted by continued grant funding.

This position is currently a hybrid position, with days worked in the office and days worked remotely.   The hybrid status of this position may change at any time subject to the Pro Bono Center’s discretion. 

This is not an attempt to list all essential functions of this position.  Job duties may change over time based on Pro Bono Center needs.  

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. 

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center is committed to providing qualified individuals with reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their jobs, pursuant to applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact Human Resources.

As part of the accommodation process, we will conduct an individualized interactive process and may ask you for additional information.  Any final hiring decisions or start dates may be delayed while the accommodation review process is ongoing if the individual cannot begin work without the requested accommodation.