Managing Attorney

SUMMARY

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. (“LASP”) seeks an attorney to manage day-to-day operations and the provision of legal services to low-income individuals and families in its Pottstown Office.  The office currently contains an attorney funded through an Independence Fellowship, and a very experienced attorney and office manager.  Pottstown has a rich history and is located 40 miles northeast of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, recently recognized as the best county in which to live in Pennsylvania.

LASP serves low-income individuals and families in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties through 9 offices and a staff of more than 80.  The Managing Attorney position involves supervising, training and motivating Pottstown Office staff to provide the highest quality legal services in accordance with LASP program guidelines, federal and state regulations and requirements, the ABA Standards, and the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Responsibility.  The Managing Attorney will also handle a caseload that is appropriate to ensure that all managerial duties of the position are fulfilled.  Case work will include representing clients facing issues in the areas of public benefits, consumer law and bankruptcy, employment, expungements, housing, family law, protection from domestic violence, dependency, neglect, and abuse cases (representing parents), and other cases as assigned. Salary for the position will be set commensurate with experience.  Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required.  This is a full-time position.

MANAGERIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

1. With the assistance of the Office Manager, supervise LASP Pottstown office staff in providing legal services to low-income clients and client groups which will include the provision of advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy in accordance with LASP priorities and case handling policies;

2. Ensure that staff in the local office have accurate, timely, and thorough information about the legal issues within the office’s scope of responsibility; Orient and train staff in basic office responsibilities;

3. Evaluate staff on an annual basis and identify training needs to be incorporated into the employee’s work plan;

4. Assist advocates to develop appropriate knowledge of laws affecting persons in poverty and the skills needed to assist clients, and act as a resource for other staff throughout the program to contribute to the development of staff knowledge and skills;

5. Conduct regular case review meetings to ensure effective delivery of high quality legal services and optimal allocation of office resources;

6. Ensure that legal services are provided in compliance with federal and state requirements as well as with other grants awarded to LASP and the local office.

7. Supervise staff in delivering local community education presentations relating to legal rights and assist in the preparation of materials for those presentations;

8. Attend regular LASP management, affinity group, and task force meetings and contribute to discussions on issues of program-wide concern;

9. Act as liaison with the local community, including the Bar, and work with local LASP Board members to identify annual office priorities;

10. Assist the Deputy and Executive Directors to recruit, hire, train, evaluate and retain a qualified staff. Cooperate with the Human Resources Manager to ensure that all employees comply with LASP personnel policies and procedures.

11. Cooperate with the Finance Department in enforcing fiscally sound office procedures and ensuring a clean annual audit.

12. Assist the Development Director and other senior management staff in seeking grants and contracts to support office work and in complying with reporting and other requirements of grants and contracts that support the office.

13. Participate in statewide and national efforts to enhance delivery of civil legal services.

CASEHANDLING AND OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

1. Interview clients, assist in determining eligibility for services, and ascertain and investigate facts;

2. Conduct legal research and interpret statutes, case law, regulations, and other sources of law;

3. Provide advice and counsel to clients;

4. Prepare legal documents, including but not necessarily limited to: briefs, pleadings, motions, notices, correspondence, memoranda, discovery and documents responsive to discovery requests;

5. Develop strategies and arguments for presentation of cases and assist in preparation of witnesses for hearings and trials;

6. Represent clients at hearings, in trial and appellate courts, and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies;

7. Review decisions and consult with LASP’s management team to determine the merit of potential appeals;

8. Participate in external professional and community organizations relevant to casework;

9. Conduct clinics, community education, and workshops;

10. Become engaged in LASP team efforts to achieve office and program goals, including participation in program-wide affinity groups and task forces;

11. Develop knowledge of community referral resources and assess community and client needs;

12. Enhance skills and substantive knowledge through training, CLE, and other educational opportunities;

13. Abide by all applicable professional standards of ethics and practice;

14. Complete required administrative tasks including entering of notes and timekeeping in LASP case management software, and maintenance of physical files;

15. Ensure that requirements of grants and contracts which may provide funding for the Pottstown office are met, and assist with grant reports;

16. Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.

SUPERVISING: Staff attorneys (2), support staff (1) and other employees, interns, and volunteers in the local office.

SUPERVISOR:  Deputy Director for Advocacy

LASP is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate in the recruitment, selection, or advancement of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information or on any other basis prohibited by law.