Executive Director
Legal Services Alabama (LSA) seeks an Executive Director to lead this nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to low-income Alabamians in all 67 counties of the state. LSA’s mission is to serve its clients “by providing civil legal aid and by promoting collaboration to find solutions to problems of poverty.” The Executive Director will work with a diverse and dedicated Board of Directors, management team, and staff.
High priority roles and responsibilities for the Executive Director include:
- Serving as the public face of LSA and nurturing effective collaborative relationships between LSA and clients, funders, social services organizations, bar associations, business, and political communities;
- Growing and diversifying resources to support LSA’s work;
- Leading advocacy within LSA and the community to benefit low income clients; and
- Enhancing the use of technology to improve client services and staff effectiveness.
Salary will depend on experience.
Legal Services Alabama
One in five Alabamians live below the poverty line. LSA helps its clients by providing
representation on critical legal matters in judicial and administrative forums; by providing
timely legal counsel and advice; through community education about rights and
responsibilities; by providing effective mediation services that help clients and keep
disputes out of the court system; and through development and distribution of legal self-
help materials and forms.
LSA’s core advocacy areas are:
- Housing (foreclosure, evictions);
- Family (domestic violence victims);
- Consumer (wage garnishment);
- Public benefits (citizens who are elderly and disabled and need benefits for daily necessities);
- Low income tax clinic (tax controversies);
- Elder law (land loss prevention, medical planning); and
- Victims of disasters (emergency legal aid).
LSA has a budget of $6.5 million. Its funding includes a grant from the Legal Services Corporation and other sources. LSA employs 78 staff members including 48 attorneys. It has offices in Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma and Tuscaloosa. The main office and centralized intake Call Center are located in Montgomery. To learn more about Legal Services Alabama and its work, visit www.legalservicesalabama.org.
Qualifications of the Executive Director include:
- A passion for the mission of LSA and a commitment to low-income individuals and communities;
- Successful experience in resource development;
- Significant management experience, including supervision of staff, financial oversight, development of budgets, and compliance with grant and contract requirements;
- A Juris Doctorate degree and be a member in good standing of the Alabama
- State Bar, or obtain membership within an appropriate amount of time following employment;
- Excellent skills in organization, communications, strategic planning, relationships and coalition-building;
- A demonstrated value for diversity and cultural competency; and
- An ability to manage and implement new technology in the delivery of services.
Applications will be accepted through September 30, 2016, or until the position is filled.
To apply, please provide a resume, three professional references, and a cover letter to
include:
- your professional work experience after graduating from law school;
- your leadership experience;
- your management or administrative experience;
- your most significant nonprofit or community activities, including fundraising;
- and
- why you believe you should be LSA’s next executive director.
LSA is being assisted in the search by Patricia Pap, Executive Director, Management Information Exchange, 99 Chauncy St., Suite 716, Boston, MA 02111, 617-556- 0288, ppap@mielegalaid.org. Candidates with questions about the position or process shall contact her.
Materials should be submitted electronically to ppap@mielegalaid.org in Microsoft Word or pdf format.
LSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and persons seeking employment will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, age or any other consideration prohibited by law.