IFP Managing Attorney

Job Overview

The Statewide Legal Services Managing Attorney, (“Managing Attorney”) is responsible for implementing and overseeing the IFP Project in an assigned set of counties, completing all required reports, and compiling monthly reports that track the number of survivors receiving representation, the type of representation and other relevant information.  The Managing Attorney will assist the domestic violence center IFP Project Attorneys representing survivors seeking temporary and final injunctions for protection, and in hearings on violations of injunctions, with providing high quality, effective legal services by providing them electronic technical assistance and legal research, monthly case law updates, technical assistance conference calls, and learning exchanges to discuss local, regional, or statewide trends and challenges, and develop and provide other legal resources to assist IFP Project attorneys in providing effective legal representation. The Managing Attorney will serve as a resource to the IFP Project Attorneys by conducting site visits to the attorneys located at centers in the counties assigned to them to help them develop outreach plans and referral protocols specific to their communities, identifying appropriate community partners with which to form collaborations for referrals of survivors, and assisting with the development of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with community partners. The Managing Attorney will organize and contract with speakers and event venues for training events and/or develop webinar and other training opportunities for IFP Project Attorneys. The Managing Attorney will serve as a resource to identify statewide trends and training gaps relating to injunctions for protection against domestic, dating and sexual violence and stalking.

Responsibilities and Duties:

· Accept monthly reports submitted by the IFP Project attorneys and review to ensure representations are within the scope of the IFP Project, to answer any Provider questions about the nature and quality of the legal services provided by IFP Project attorneys and to track statewide and local trends and barriers faced by survivors.

· Complete all required reports and compile monthly reports that track the number of survivors receiving representation, the type of representation and other relevant information in their assigned counties.

· Compile data from monthly reports into quarterly trend reports to share with state OAG and DCF DVP, certified domestic violence center partners, and other stakeholders.

· Organize and conduct site visits at assigned domestic violence centers to assist the IFP Project Attorneys with implementing or continuing the project, developing outreach plans specific to their communities, identifying specific entities with which to collaborate, review case files to ensure compliance with project requirements and provide feedback on courtroom observation if available. 

· Conduct new project orientations with domestic violence centers newly implementing the IFP Project.

· Review and approve each MOU for referral and collaboration between IFP Projects and partners prior to execution.

· Provide electronic, telephonic and on-site technical and research assistance to project attorneys, including monthly case law updates, and responses to specific requests for research, technical assistance, litigation strategy or other legal support and supervision to IFP Project Attorneys.

· Review IFP Project Attorney requests for accepting repeat violence cases.

· Review client complaints and assist with responding to any complaint, where appropriate.

· Assist IFP Project Attorneys in responding to investigation from the Florida Bar and to determine whether IFP Project attorney can continue to represent survivors in pending cases.

· Assist in creating transition plan for any IFP Project Attorney leaving the IFP Project.

· Review content of flyers that describe the IFP Project free legal services for distribution by IFP Projects to the clerks’ offices, law enforcement and other agencies. Co-facilitate technical assistance conference calls with the IFP Project attorneys to discuss statewide trends and provide technical assistance.

· Organize and develop webinar and other training opportunities for IFP Project Attorneys, including contracting with speakers, if appropriate for legal trainings. 

· Provide guidance and feedback about statewide trends and training gaps relating to injunctions for protection against domestic, dating and sexual violence and stalking to partners and stakeholders. 

· Assist the Statewide Legal Services Lead Managing Attorney in providing technical assistance to domestic violence centers relating to confidentiality, privilege and other topics as requested by the Statewide Legal Services Lead Managing Attorney. 

Assist in various internal projects as requested.  

Education/Training/Experience:

 

· The IFP Project Managing Attorney will possess a J.D. from an accredited law school, and a minimum of three years of litigation experience, preferably representing survivors of domestic, dating and sexual violence and stalking in injunction for protection proceedings and other civil legal matters, or prosecuting batterers in criminal proceedings. The Managing Attorney must have a strong understanding of and commitment to the philosophy of the Battered Women’s Movement and knowledge of the feminist analysis of battering, as well as the dynamics of domestic violence, and knowledge of root causes of violence against women and oppressed groups. 

Specialized or technical educational requirements:

· The IFP Project Managing Attorney must possess expertise in domestic, dating, and sexual violence and stalking, and in providing effective representation to survivors in injunction for protection and other legal proceedings. The Managing Attorney must develop a comprehensive understanding of the services and programs of the Florida certified domestic violence centers. The Managing Attorney must possess excellent research and writing skills, and be capable of effectively communicating with small and large groups of individuals. The Managing Attorney will possess highly developed interpersonal skills and management acumen as well as critical thinking and problem solving skills, and must be able to make appropriate decisions with minimal supervision. 

Certification or Licensing Requirements:

· Florida licensed attorney in good standing with no prior Florida Bar disciplinary proceedings that resulted in the imposition of any penalty.

· Valid Florida Driver’s License and two years driving experience and dependable transportation.

· Requires Domestic Violence Core Competency training.

· Must be able to pass a level 2 background check.

· Requires on-going 16-hours of DV related training after the first year. 

Physical Demands:

· While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to use hands, and is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, sit, and walk. The employee may occasionally be required to reach with hands and arms.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

· The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

 

· The IFP Project Managing Attorney requires some in-state travel. The individual in this position will travel to project sites statewide, meetings, on-site trainings and the annual state conference for the IFP Project. In some instances, travel must occur with minimal notice. The Spring’s Legal Services Division is fast-paced and goal oriented. During deadlines, the work environment may become stressful.