Director of Advocacy & Legal Work Management
The Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) seeks a talented individual to be its Director of Advocacy & Legal Work Management. CALS is a nonprofit corporation, which provides free legal assistance to low-income persons. CALS has nine offices with approximately 60 employees, including 30 attorneys.
The Director of Advocacy & Legal Work Management is responsible for leading all aspects of CALS’ litigation agenda, advocacy, and direct client services to ensure excellence, professionalism, respect of clients, and adherence to the highest ethical standards. The Director of Advocacy & Legal Work Management supervises the Subject Area Managers and Regional Supervisors and ensures all legal staff works as a team.
Primary Responsibilities:
• Oversight of the development of an overall litigation agenda consistent with the strategic response to pressing client issues.
• Oversight of CALS’ administrative, trial, and appellate work.
• Acts as the program-expert and leader on case numbers, case accountability standards, and case management standards.
• Establishes and guides development of case handling procedures and accountability standards.
• Oversight of grant compliance for legal staff.
• Seeks out and promotes substantive law training and litigation skill development.
• Ensure effective communication with clients.
• Ensures proper communication between the Subject Area Managers, Regional Supervisors, Helpline, Outreach Coordinator, Communications Specialist, Special Projects team, and Pro Bono Coordinators.
• Works with the Director of Intake and Special Projects on oversight of CALS’ communications efforts including the maintenance and content development of CALS’ website and the statewide website.
• Works with the Director of Intake and Special Projects on the oversight of CALS’ Special Projects.
• Works with the Director of Intake & Special Projects and Subject Area Managers in development of CALS’ Case Acceptance Guidelines and interview scripts.
• Provides regular reports to the Executive Director regarding the litigation and advocacy agenda, highlighting areas of excellence, areas of concern, and opportunities or needs to adjust programs.
• Works with the Executive Director and other management in hiring, evaluating, disciplining, and terminating staff.
• Works to ensure consistency with the staff onboarding processes, leadership development, and necessary training.
• Fosters co-counseling and networking with other civil litigators and builds CALS’ litigation profile.
• Supervises the community legal education programs and the content of written educational materials, including annual review and update of all CALS fact sheets, forms, and website.
• Enforces adherence to the LSC regulations, Case Services Report Handbook, and the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Oversight of the client grievance process.
• Collaborates with the Director of Intake & Special Projects and CALS’ pro bono projects to provide comprehensive community outreach and service delivery.
• Administration and oversight of Legal Server case management system; including new staff training, report building, onboarding new modules, and other duties as needed.
• Assists Executive Director with special projects as needed.
• Performs other duties as required.
Competitive salary range of $98,000 to $110,000 based on qualifications and experience. CALS is a nonprofit organization, which provides free legal assistance to low-income and elderly individuals in 44 Arkansas
counties with offices in Little Rock, Benton, Rogers, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and Russellville.
Qualifications:
• Licensed to practice law in Arkansas or eligible for reciprocity admission;
• Minimum ten years of legal practice with significant litigation experience;
• Minimum three years of management experience;
• Ability to work with diverse population of professionals;
• Demonstrated interest in the problems of the poor;
• Exceptional organizational skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Good public and community relations skills
• Proven organizational, leadership and management skills;
• In state and out of state travel required.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Knowledge of poverty law, LSC regulations and ABA standards for delivery of legal services;
• Experience in the operation of a Legal Services program and effective use of its resources for provision of legal assistance to a diverse low-income client community;
• Proficiency with computer software, including Word, Excel, Office 365, SharePoint and Legal Server;
• Bilingual ability a plus.
Applicants must submit a completed CALS application, resume, cover letter, and three job references to jobs@arkansaslegalservices.org or the Center for Arkansas Legal Services, 1300 W. 6th St., Little Rock, AR 72201 501-376-3423, 800-950-5817. Job application is available at our website
https://www.arkansaslegal.org/careers.
Position is open until filled.
CALS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.