Managing Attorney/Project Director (Disaster Relief)
Position Summary: Legal Aid seeks a leader for its Disaster Relief. The leader will work with a staff of 21 lawyers, paralegal and social workers to deliver high quality legal services to eligible clients across the State of North Carolina to ensure that they receive and equitable recovery from the impacts of natural disasters. The team at the Disaster Relief Project is committed to educating, advocating for, and working with communities across the state that experience impacts from natural disasters.
Job Description:
- Lead the Disaster Relief Project and its staff with enthusiasm, integrity, empathy, and accountability.
- Ensure that advocates provide high quality legal representation to all clients.
- Nurture and recruit talented, committed, diverse advocates.
- Inspire exceptional performance amongst all staff and ensure accountability.
- Effectively manage, delegate, and communicate with staff.
- Cultivate and sustain strong relationships across a range of state agencies, nonprofit partners and volunteer organizations, and the local communities the project serves.
- Serve on the Legal Aid leadership team and actively participate in setting Legal Aid’s long-term goals, policies, and procedures.
- Create and foster a positive legal learning environment for all staff.
- Hold Supervising Attorneys to a high standard of legal and professional excellence.
- Treat all staff in an equitable manner.
- Bring an innovative approach to the practice of law and the delivery of legal services, especially in rural areas, and be flexible and creative in solving problems.
- Actively participate and be engaged in the legal profession in North Carolina.
- Represent Legal Aid at internal and external events.
- Create professional development opportunities for staff.
- Conduct staff performance reviews and obtain high quality performance from staff.
- Actively participate in development efforts including but not limited to attending major gift asks with the CEO and Development Director, identifying grant opportunities and applying for grants, working with the local bar on fundraising activities and making requests of local and state government for funding in coordination with the Legal Aid development office.
- Develop positive relationships with local and state leaders and share the Legal Aid story in compliance with all Legal Services Corporation regulations.
- Hear and attempt to resolve client and employee grievances.
- Implement and enforce all Legal Aid policies and procedures.
- Be a strong communicator who responds timely to all internal and external communications.
- Partner with other Legal Aid offices as appropriate to ensure their success (e.g., act as a mentor, co-counsel cases, represent clients).
- Collaborate with co-workers, clients and other legal services providers on projects that affect clients or the client community regionally or statewide.
- Participate in training to further legal education, improve advocacy skills and to remain current on developments in the law.
Qualifications: Candidates applying for this position should have the following qualifications:
- A passion for serving low-income clients.
- A proven commitment to the mission and values of Legal Aid of North Carolina.
- A proven commitment to, appreciation for and understanding of organizational values around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- A positive, inclusive, and engaged leader who inspires others.
- High standards of integrity for self and others.
- A strong commitment to the professional growth of Legal Aid employees.
- An accountable leader who takes responsibility for their team’s performance.
- An innovator who embraces new and creative ways of thinking and operating.
- Be steady and reliable, able to keep the project and employees on task.
- A proven delegator who gives clear direction and empowers others to act and make decisions.
- The readiness to hold others accountable for their actions and to enforce elevated expectations for performance.
- An empathetic decision maker.
- Exceptional legal skills and experience.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Excellent writing and oratorical skills.
- High respect from peers and strong relationships in the legal and/or local community.
- Familiarity with grant management, particularly with planning, implementing, and meeting grant milestones.
- A passion for and commitment to community education and engagement.
- A willingness to travel statewide.
- Be authorized to practice law in the State of North Carolina and in good standing with the State Bar.
- Have no pending North Carolina State Bar disciplinary proceedings.
Are you the next Managing Attorney/Project Director of our Disaster Relief Project? To apply for this position, submit a cover letter that specifically addresses how your qualifications align with the qualifications in the job description, resume, three references and any other materials that you wish to be considered to jobs@legalaidnc.org and Lesley Albritton at LesleyA@legalaidnc.org. The deadline for submissions is due on or before May 29, 2023.