Director of Legal Services

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Director of Legal Services is

responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of legal services for The

LGBTQ Center Long Beach. This includes providing client advocacy, managing

community outreach, and overseeing training efforts. Additionally, the Director of

Legal Services will manage paid staff and volunteer attorneys, ensuring that legal

services are delivered in a safe, affirming, and welcoming environment aligned with

The Center’s mission.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Administrative Responsibilities

• Recruit, hire, train, and support the professional development of assigned
• program managers.
• Develop and implement appropriate training protocols for department staff.
• Collaborate with the senior management team to integrate cross-program
• activities and functions.
• Instill accountability among team members by modeling strong oversight of
• individual and organizational performance standards.
• Maintain programmatic data, evaluate activities against established metrics, and
• adjust efforts as needed to meet goals and objectives.
• Prepare and submit required reports, including reauthorizations, as requested by
• funders.
• Identify potential funding opportunities to sustain and expand services as needed.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Participate in team, department, interdisciplinary, and staff meetings as
• necessary.
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of all legal services.
• Manage departmental performance goals and objectives.
• Produce policy and planning documents addressing domestic violence, antiviolence,
• and emerging legal issues, as needed.
• Represent the department at public forums (conferences, trainings, mixers, etc.)
• when necessary.
• Advocate for and promote inclusive and affirming legal policies and objectives.

Management Responsibilities

• Oversee the expansion of The Center’s legal services department, including
• recruitment, training, and scheduling of volunteer attorneys licensed to practice in
• California for individual consultations and community workshops.

Direct Service Responsibilities

• Oversee the expansion of The Center’s legal services department, including
• recruitment, training, and scheduling of volunteer attorneys licensed to practice in
• Triage service inquiries to assess client fit and needs.
• Provide client advocacy, referrals to internal and external services, and linkage to
• resources as needed.
• Accompany clients to court proceedings and appointments when necessary.

Outreach Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a collaborative referral network across Southern
• California with social services, legal, law enforcement, and educational
• institutions.
• Develop and lead training for area service providers, attorneys, and
• government agencies on best practices for serving LGBTQ+ clients and
• victims of crime, domestic violence, and sexual assault.
• Oversee or facilitate workshops addressing emergent needs within target
• populations.
• Maintain relationships with internal and external LGBTQ+ direct service
• providers.

Board of Directors Responsibilities

• Attend board meetings and provide input on issues and tasks being
• considered.
• Prepare and present regular or special programmatic reports to the Board
• of Directors as required by the Executive Director.

Personnel Responsibilities

• Adhere to The Center’s personnel policies and procedures.
• Provide coaching and mentoring opportunities for staff to promote
• professional development.
• Individual and group supervision for department staff should be offered
• according to Center policies.

General Responsibilities

• Participate in team, department, interdisciplinary meetings, events,
• fundraising events, or other functions as needed.
• Perform other reasonable duties as necessary or assigned.

Desired Qualifications, Experience and Skills:

• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is required, as is an active and current California State
• Bar license in good standing.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience practicing law.
• At least three (3) years of experience addressing issues of violence within the
• LGBTQ community, with a focus on client, staff, programmatic, and organizational
• safety concerns.
• Proven track record in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Expertise in differentiating between aggressor and survivor dynamics, with
• experience implementing programs informed by aggressor/survivor differentiation
• techniques.
• Demonstrated experience in trauma-informed legal approaches, particularly in the
• provision of services to victims of crime.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage complex, multifaceted
• projects, ensuring measurable success and program growth.
• Experience working within high-performance, collaborative teams.
• Proven experience in hiring, managing, developing, and coaching staff.
• Bilingual and fluent in English and either Spanish or Khmer (read, write, and
• speak).
• Ability to pass an FBI background check.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Access to reliable transportation, a valid driver's license, and a driving record that
• meets The Center's liability insurance requirements.
• Proficient in computer applications, including email, Microsoft Office Suite (Word,
• Excel, PowerPoint), and other software/tools relevant to program operations and
• reporting