Director of Volunteer Lawyers Program

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM), a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to persons living with low income/low opportunity, seeks an attorney to direct its Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP).  The VLP is LSEM’s active pro bono program and is responsible for referring eligible clients/cases to volunteer attorneys who have agreed to accept periodic pro bono referrals and monitoring those placements. The Director of the VLP will work under the supervision of the Associate Director for Client Services and the Executive Director and will be responsible for the effective administration and operation of the VLP.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Recruits volunteer lawyers and maintains relationships with volunteer law firms, bar associations and in-house legal departments.  Maintain existing relationship with strong core of pro bono participants/supporters. Develop new relationships with law firms or groups that are not optimally active and involved;

2. Supervises all staff and students in the VLP – provides effective management and leadership of staff and students on all the VLP matters;

3. Provides critical administrative leadership for ongoing case management systems, record retention, reporting requirements, tickler systems and docketing systems;

4. Conducts regular case reviews with program staff to ensure cases areprogressing appropriately through the VLP case management systems;

5. Ensures compliance with LSEM’s Operations Manual, Legal Services Corporation regulations and other reporting/compliance requirements where needed;

6. Acts as liaison between clients and volunteers – ensuring effective communication from case referral through closing, including trouble shooting and issues that arise between clients and volunteers;

7. Works closely with other substantive units at LSEM to ensure effective support to volunteers and clients – including development and delivery of informative CLE’s to current and prospective volunteer lawyers. 

8. Works closely with staff in other substantive units to strategize about, develop and implement new pro bono programs responsive to needs in both the client community and at LSEM in serving those clients.

9. Works closely with LSEM’s Community Economic Development Program – another LSEM program working with volunteer lawyers helping small businesses and nonprofits – to ensure effective coordination and communication with volunteer lawyers, law firms, in-house legal departments and other community partners.

10. Recruits, Screens and Supervises in-house volunteer lawyers or other non- attorney volunteers, including law students;

11. Serves as liaison between the volunteer lawyers and LSEM managing attorneys;

12. Helps plan and coordinates off-site outreach and intake by volunteer attorneys;

13. Conducts periodic community education to other professionals, agencies, client- eligible groups and community organizations;

14. Provides significant legal advice, and in some practice areas, gives brief service direct representation to clients when no volunteer attorney is assigned.

15. Remains active in the local and/or state bar associations and specialty bar associations;

16. Works closely with Director of Development and other Development Department staff to ensure effective coordination of outreach to individual lawyers, law firms and other prospective supporters of LSEM.

17. Works closely with Development Department on LSEM events (Justice for All Ball, For the Common Good Awards and other important functions hosted or attended by LSEM staff).

18. Maintains knowledge on best practices for Pro Bono programs through connections with other pro bono professionals throughout Missouri and other parts of the country.

19. Other duties as assigned.