Director of Legal Services

Who We Are:

First Maryland Disability Trust, Inc. (FMDT) is a non-profit organization serving individuals with disabilities of all ages throughout Maryland. FMDT offers cost-effective Trustee and trust management services with a personal touch, designed to enhance the quality of life of our beneficiaries while protecting their eligibility for public benefits.

Director of Legal Services:

We’re looking for a Director of Legal Services to join the leadership team of FMDT. We are looking for someone with a strong dedication to serving the disability community in Maryland. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Legal Services assists the CEO with the day-to-day management of the services offered by FMDT to further our mission. If you are experienced in disability trust administration, with a focus on special needs trust administration and guardianships, we invite you to apply to help us make a positive impact on the lives of our clients and their families! This is a great opportunity for an experienced lawyer in the nonprofit sector, looking to make a difference and enjoy a work-life balance.  

Key Priorities and Responsibilities:

• Advise the CEO and staff on legal matters, including review and interpretation of trust and guardianship documents to ensure FMDT compliance with these documents and applicable law.
• Draft, review, and negotiate various documents and agreements pertaining to trust administration, guardianships, and other FMDT programs.
• Collaborate with the CEO on the design and implementation of FMDT policies, procedures, resources, and training for FMDT staff. 
• Manage litigation, including collaboration with outside counsel. 
• Maintain and grow FMDT’s business by building, retaining, and growing trusted relationships with clients, attorneys, and other persons involved with each program. 
• Collaborate with and assist the trust administration team, staff accountant, and outside accountants with various aspects of trust administration and guardianships. 
• Supervise and train FMDT’s legal support staff. 
• Prepare presentations and other materials for the Board as well as educational presentations for various groups. 

What We're Looking For:

• Juris Doctorate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association 
• Licensed to practice law in Maryland and in good standing with the Supreme Court of Maryland. 
• 3-5+ years of experience as an attorney with special needs/disability trust planning and administration and guardianships, 2+ years of experience supervising paralegals/legal assistants.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and trust administration software/technology tools. 
• Able to perform in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. While the environment is fast-paced, the work hours reflect FMDT's commitment to work-life balance.
• Strong organizational, time management, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and the ability to prioritize. 
• A commitment to our mission to serve the disability community. 
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to cultivate and maintain positive and productive relationships with trust beneficiaries and their families and advocates and FMDT’s outside counsel.  
• Eligible to qualify for coverage under FMDT’s legal/professional liability and errors and omissions insurance policies. 
• Experience with estate planning and administration.
• Knowledge of public benefit programs such as SSA, SSI, SSDI, Medicare, Medicaid, and waiver programs in the context of their support for trust beneficiaries (preferred). 

This Position Offers:

• Annual starting salary range of $125,000 to $150,000, commensurate with experience
• Excellent benefits package
• Generous Leave and holidays
• The opportunity to work with our mission-driven and collaborative team!

More About FMDT:

It is the mission of the First Maryland Disability Trust, Inc., to enhance the quality of life, autonomy, and dignity of Marylanders with disabilities by offering cost effective trust services to protect, manage and use trust assets for our beneficiaries while preserving their eligibility for pubic and private benefits. For additional information about First Maryland Disability Trust, Inc., and our CEO, please check out these links: https://www.firstmdtrust.org/ and FMDT's CEO.

TO APPLY: Please submit a Letter of Interest (this is important and required) and your resume (in Word format).

The First Maryland Disability Trust, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), national origin, ancestry, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.