Title: Managing Attorney
Reports To: Vice President of Legal Services
Department: Legal + Social
Supervises: Legal Work Group (Currently 2-4 Staff Attorneys, 1 Paralegal, and 1 Intake Specialist)
Job Type: Full Time (40+ Hours) Exempt
Salary: 88,000 - 100,000
Texas Advocacy Project is a statewide non-profit working to end dating and domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking in Texas. TAP empowers survivors through free legal services and access to the justice system, and advances prevention through public outreach and education. Our vision is that all Texans live free from abuse.
TAP's Core Values are Integrity, Courage, Innovation, & Empowerment.
General Description
The Managing Attorney is responsible for coordinating the provision of a broad range of civil law, primarily family law, and related legal services to clients who are victims of domestic or dating violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, or trafficking.
This position may be able to be fulfilled remotely from Houston, Dallas, Austin, or elsewhere in Texas.
The Managing Attorney handles case review and assignment and consultations with legal staff, intake, and volunteers in case strategy and in identifying and trying impact litigation cases. The Managing Attorney provides day-to-day supervision of assigned staff and activities to facilitate provision of services including providing legal assistance and training, information and referral, & assistance with Crime Victims' Compensation and Texas Statewide Automated Victim Notification System (SAVNS) to clients/callers with domestic violence and sexual assault issues, assisted pro se legal services, and direct representation of victims.
Duties & Responsibilities
Legal Assistance:
- Review and assign incoming cases and review all closed cases for their workgroup. Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and evaluates the work of assigned staff. Regularly updates VP of Legal on work group’s case status. Managing Attorney will help maintain arrest review schedule, court appearance calendar, and agency case docket.
- The Managing Attorney will provide a range of legal services to TAP’s clients, including providing legal advice on our statewide phone lines, drafting legal pleadings for use by pro se clients, directly representing clients, participating in statewide advocacy efforts, and performing a range of other legal services as required. The Managing Attorney also works with domestic violence victims, law enforcement, and arraignment judges in Travis County to help victims of family violence understand their legal options after the batterer has been arrested, and assists with processing MOEP’s.
Administrative:
- Duties include direct management of work group staff consisting of personnel matters such as timekeeping, leave requests, accruals, reimbursements, training requests, and employee evaluations with input from VP of Legal and the Chief Legal Officer.
- Assist with recruiting and retaining new staff and volunteers. Help manage legal volunteers including referral attorneys, pro bono attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, and screeners. Ensure timesheets and volunteer files are current. Other duties as determined by supervisor
Training:
- The Managing Attorney is responsible for planning and implementing trainings to members of the judiciary, law enforcement, advocates, and others in order to expand our services and ensure best practices throughout Texas.
- Training tasks also include training new staff and volunteers and maintaining training materials including PowerPoint presentations, protocols, other materials, etc.
Qualifications:
- Graduated from an accredited law school. Licensed to practice law in Texas with at least five years’ experience as a practicing attorney, experience handling legal issues for domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking victims preferred. Previous management experience also required.
- Knowledge of Texas Family Code, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and Code of Criminal Procedure. Knowledge of domestic violence and sexual assault issues. Skilled in client intake and interviewing. Must have basic computer skills and familiarity with database management and record keeping. Must be able to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to provide information to callers in crisis and be able to help focus individuals in a compassionate and respectful manner.
- A managing attorney must have strong written and verbal communication skills. They must have strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate, persuade, and influence others. They must also have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to delegate and prioritize duties with a strong attention to detail. Managing attorneys must be neat, organized, professional, and driven to succeed. They must have a strong work ethic with an inherent understanding of their ethical duties.
- Proficient in Spanish strongly preferred. Some travel is required. Some work on weekends.
Salary starts at $88,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Health insurance, malpractice insurance, CLE and State Bar dues are paid, and you have the opportunity to participate in the Project’s matching retirement plan. Generous paid vacation, personal leave, and holidays.
Application Instructions: Please send a cover letter and a detailed resume to [email protected]. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Please type “Managing Attorney” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Open until the position is filled. Please indicate how you heard about the opening.
TAP and its Board of Directors supports the principles and spirit of equal opportunity based upon qualifications and related experience without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or medical condition as defined in federal and state laws. Current TAP employees may apply for any position openings in which they have an interest.
Texas Advocacy Project is a smoke-free work environment.