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.
MCLA announces an immediate opening for a full-time Supervising Attorney position for qualified applicants in the District Court Help Center located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Successful candidates will demonstrate an ability to handle a broad range of duties in a timely manner.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supervise the daily work of staff and provide feedback, formal and informal, as needed.
- Assist the supervisory team with hiring, data reporting, developing internal resources, and training.
- 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 whenever appropriate.
- Primary hours are 8:30 pm - 4:30 pm, but you will be required to occasionally staff evening hours and be on-call for supervisory issues as needed.
- Be able to provide support to MCLA's other offices as needed.
Qualifications:
- Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland.
- Three or more years of litigation experience and demonstrated supervisory experience.
- Flexible and supportive team member, able to transition quickly from one task to another.
- Ability to conduct rapid legal research.
- Strong customer service skills, including the ability to emphasize and assist people who are distressed and communicate complex legal concepts in simple terms.
- Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred.
Work Environment
Work duties are typically performed in a general office setting with regular interaction via email, phone, videoconference, instant message, and in person. Work duties will also be performed in community settings.
Benefits
The salary range for this position is $96,000 - $110,000. In addition, MCLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan with employer contribution, paid vacation, sick leave and personal leave, 14 annual paid holidays, and more.
Maryland Center for Legal Assistance is committed to equity, justice, and inclusion. As an equal-opportunity employer, MCLA seeks to hire individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives that reflect the communities we serve, including people with disabilities, people of color, women, and members of traditionally underrepresented groups.
Anyone interested in applying must send an updated resume and cover letter via the online application.
- $110,000 - $96,000/year
