Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of North Carolina (Gastonia Office)

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to low-income clients in all 100 counties of North Carolina.

LANC seeks to hire an experienced attorney to manage its office in Gastonia, North Carolina, which is located in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. This managing attorney will report to a regional manager and lead a talented team of advocates who provide life-altering solutions to the critical legal needs faced by the poorest and most vulnerable members in that community. The managing attorney will work creatively with local staff and the resources available through our statewide organization to achieve meaningful and lasting solutions both to individual as well as community-wide legal problems.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify and meet the most critical legal needs of the most vulnerable in the communities in which they work and ensure that LANC delivers high-quality legal services.

Ensure that LANC delivers high-quality legal services in an efficient manner by prudently and creatively deploying LANC’s scarce resources in a manner that is effective in maintaining the mission of LANC.

Work with their respective Managers, Regional Manager, and the Executive Director to improve all aspects of service and the organization as a whole.

Hire competent, skillful, and committed advocates and support staff. Ensure that proper training and mentoring is available to all staff to foster high-quality work and the long-term retention of good employees.

Enable advocates to engage in collaborative work and to increase professional competence.

Supervise the quality of the work and productivity of the legal advocates on staff. Supervision includes regular case reviews, open file reviews, review of pleadings and correspondence, observations of the advocates in court and at hearings, and grant compliance.

Act as a key liaison to the private bar and to our communities at large.

BASIC EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Admitted to practice in North Carolina or able to seek admission within six months.

Five years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably in a civil legal aid environment.

Significant trial and advocacy experience in federal and/or state trial courts, appellate courts, and administrative forums.

Excellent written and communication skills.

Experience working with, and a demonstrated commitment to, social justice issues of concern to community groups, neighborhood organizations, and/or advocacy groups that work to improve the lives of low-income community members.

Ability to articulate our organizational mission to staff, volunteers, the local bar and local funders and to serve as the embodiment of our organizational values with presence, demeanor, and leadership skills.

Capable of identifying and responding creatively and with equanimity to emerging issues, new policies, and funding challenges.

ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Fluency in Spanish

Experience litigating family, consumer, housing, government benefits, or other matters of importance to low-income people

Willingness to live in Gaston, Cleveland, or Lincoln counties

Experience with poverty or working with low-income people

Demonstrated skill working with judges and public officials

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary and benefits are competitive with public interest positions of similar responsibility in the Southeast. The initial salary will depend on the applicant’s qualifications. Benefits include medical (including family), dental (including family), long and short term disability, life insurance, loan repayment, 401(k), and generous leave and sabbatical policies.

HIRING PROCESS

LANC is committed to maintaining a culturally diverse workplace, and it strongly encourages women, persons of color, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, and persons with disabilities to apply for this position. LANC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please let us know if any assistance is required to participate in this process.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected. To receive full consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. To apply, submit a letter expressing your qualifications and your particular interest in this position, along with a résumé and a writing sample. If you are selected for an interview, you may be asked to submit contact information for references.

 All application materials may be submitted to Ted Fillette at TedF@legalaidnc.org. Please put “Managing Attorney” in the subject line.

Information about Legal Aid of North Carolina, its work and its governance, may be found at www.legalaidnc.org. We also are available on Facebook and Twitter.