Staff Attorney

Maryland Center for Legal Assistance (MCLA) expands access to justice by providing free, compassionate, innovative, and high-quality legal services. Through comprehensive legal advice, education, and collaboration with community partners, we empower all people, regardless of means or background, to navigate the civil legal system with confidence. 

MCLA, through a contract with the Maryland Judiciary, operates Court Help Centers throughout Maryland to provide legal advice to civil litigants in person and via phone, chat, email, and videoconference. The Help Centers deal with a wide range of civil legal matters, including landlord-tenant, consumer matters such as debt collection and credit card cases, child support, and criminal record expungements to remove barriers to obtaining housing, employment, and child custody. 

Job Summary: 

MCLA announces an immediate opening for a full-time Staff Attorney position in the District Court Help Center in La Plata, MD. Successful candidates will demonstrate an ability to handle a broad range of duties in a timely manner. Please find below a summary of the job description.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide brief legal advice and information to self-represented litigants in connection with civil legal issues, including Landlord and Tenant Matters, Civil Claims, Expungement and Shielding of Records, Consumer Matters, Return of Property, Domestic Violence/Peace Orders, Family Law, and Foreclosure.
• Assist self-represented litigants in drafting their pleadings and motions, preparing for trial, completing court forms, and understanding court documents and the law.  
• Provide referrals to appropriate legal service organizations, agencies, and lawyer referral services wherever appropriate. 
• Local travel as needed between our various offices.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the position's essential functions.

Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland. 
• One-year or more civil litigation experience, clinical or clerkship experience will be considered.
• Ability to conduct rapid legal research using Westlaw. 
• Strong customer service skills including ability to empathize and assist people who are distressed. 
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts in simple terms.
• Ability to travel to different offices on short notice. 
• Fluency in Spanish and American Sign Language strongly preferred.

Work Environment

Work duties are typically performed in a general office setting with regular interaction via telephone, videoconference, instant messaging and email, and in-person. Certain work duties may be performed in community setting or remotely.

Benefits

The current salary range for the staff attorney position is $74,575.00 - $115,112.00. 

Staff attorneys will be paid by MCLA’s Workers Union’s current salary scale, which is subject to revision annually through collective bargaining negotiations. For example: 

• The salary for an attorney with one (1) year of experience is $74, 575. 
• The salary for an attorney with three (3) years of experience is $77, 935. 
• The salary for an attorney with five (5) years of experience is $80, 175. 

Attorneys are paid on the earliest date of admission to a U.S. state bar, assuming eligibility to practice (either under the Maryland bar or under Rule 15 if another state bar) and continuous full-time legal work experience following the date of admission. 

Maryland Legal Aid (MCLA) offers a generous benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 5% employer contribution, life insurance, and approximately 14 paid holidays. Employees receive paid time off, including 10 vacation days in the first year (increasing with tenure), 10 sick days, 20 days of parental leave, bereavement leave, and personal leave. Additional benefits include short and long-term disability, jury duty pay, eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Employee Assistance Programs, and multilingual pay options. Flex Spending Accounts are also available.

Additional Requirements

• Please submit an updated resume and a cover letter detailing your interest in the position.
• No telephone calls, please. The position will remain open until filled.
• References will be required at the time of the final interview. 

Maryland Center for Legal Assistance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, reflective or our core values, for all employees.