Staff Attorney, NPSB

The Staff Attorney, Nonprofit and Small Business Legal Assistance Program (NPSB) plans and conducts nonprofit and small business clinics and training events, prepares written and online guidance for nonprofit organizations and small businesses, provides brief advice or limited scope representation to clients in specific circumstances, and supports the placement of nonprofit organizations with pro bono counsel. The Staff Attorney, NPSB works in partnership with volunteer attorneys on a variety of programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Prepares and delivers online training programs and consultation services on nonprofit business law topics, individually or in partnership with volunteer attorneys. 

•    Plans, prepares, and delivers in-person training programs on nonprofit business law topics. Recruits and manages course participants and volunteer attorney trainers. 

•    Collects and disseminates model forms, documents, and other resource materials for volunteers and community-based organizations, including helping update and maintain the LawHelp resource hub.

•    Drafts articles, legal alerts, and other substantive materials for volunteer attorneys and community-based organizations.

•    Monitors developments in nonprofit law and develops strategies to educate the nonprofit community.

•    Collaborates with NPSB department personnel to plan and conduct nonprofit legal clinics; recruits and supports volunteer attorneys participating in nonprofit clinics.

•    Supports small business clinics, to include screening small business attendees and supervising law student and paralegal volunteers.

•    Provides brief advice to nonprofit organizations in connection with the screening and matching process for long-term pro bono placements. 

•    Reviews requests for assistance from community-based organizations, screens requests against project criteria, identifies their legal needs, and matches clients with volunteer law firms for long-term partnerships.

•    Monitors pro bono matches, provides mentoring, technical assistance, and legal research.

•    Leads outreach activities directed to community-based nonprofit organizations to acquaint them with the Pro Bono Center’s services, identify their unmet legal needs, and generate requests for assistance.

•    Oversees the work of volunteers, paralegals, law students and interns.

•    Assists the Assistant Director in preparing project reports for Pro Bono Center management, volunteer leadership, funders, and the community.

•    Supports Pro Bono Center and D.C. Bar staff and management on nonprofit compliance and filing obligations related to the Pro Bono Center’s 501(c)(3) status. 

•    Performs other duties as assigned.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•    J.D. degree from an accredited law school.

•    An active member of the D.C. Bar or eligible to become an active D.C. Bar member within two months of being hired.

•    Relevant work experience in positions of increasing responsibility.

•    Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working environment.

•    Experience handling business law and nonprofit law matters including nonprofit entity formation, corporate and board governance, receipt and maintenance of IRS tax-exempt status, employment law, intellectual property, risk management and insurance, and contract/transactional matters.

•    Ability to regularly work evenings and weekends for a variety of Pro Bono Center clinics and events.

•    Excellent oral and written communication skills.

•    Must be detail oriented and deadline driven. Able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment.

•    Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Must work well in a team environment and be able to interact with Bar members, volunteers, vendors, the public and Pro Bono Center and Bar employees.

•    Must work well under pressure, possess excellent organizational abilities, and be able to manage several priorities in a day.

•    Must be adaptable, creative, and self-motivated.

•    Ability to handle and maintain the confidentiality of highly sensitive information.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

•    Experience navigating and interacting with local and federal government agencies.

•    Experience working with community-based nonprofits.

•    Experience working and communicating with clients from diverse backgrounds, including conveying legal information to non-legal specialists and generalist audiences.  

•    Experience working with volunteers.

***Please submit a resume, cover letter, and two (2) writing samples.***  Applications without the required resume, cover letter, and two (2) writing samples will not be reviewed.

This position is currently a hybrid position, with days worked in the office and days worked remotely.   The hybrid status of this position may change at any time subject to the Pro Bono Center’s discretion. 

This is not an attempt to list all essential functions of this position.  Job duties may change over time based on organizational/department needs.  

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. 

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center is committed to providing qualified individuals with reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their jobs, pursuant to applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at HR@dcbar.org.   

As part of the accommodation process, we will conduct an individualized interactive process and may ask you for additional information.  Any final hiring decisions or start dates may be delayed while the accommodation review process is ongoing if the individual cannot begin work without the requested accommodation.