Family Law Supervising Attorney

At DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF), we believe everyone deserves access to justice and that income should never be a barrier to a family’s receipt of high-quality legal representation. DCALF delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation and fills critical gaps by using innovative programming to expand access to justice and empower lower-income community members with unmet legal needs. DCALF provides a wide-range of no-cost and low-cost family law, probate, estate planning, and immigration legal services to DC residents and individuals navigating legal issues in DC. We are fiercely dedicated to leveling the playing field and ensuring historically underserved clients can tackle some of life’s most daunting legal issues with a lawyer by their side.

Position Overview

DCALF seeks a Supervising Attorney who is enthusiastic about helping lead our family law practice, bolstering the work of our 25-person legal team, supporting our equity initiatives, and fostering innovative approaches to enhance the impact and evolution of our growing organization. The Supervising Attorney will demonstrate a commitment to stewarding the growth and professional development of recent law graduates as they enter the legal profession while ensuring delivery of high-quality legal services. They will work in partnership with DCALF’s leadership to drive an equitable, open, collaborative work environment, legal operations, and case management practices.

The Supervising Attorney will work as a front-line supervisor in DCALF’s family law practice, including the Family Law Assistance Network, and guide attorneys at regular case review meetings, provide feedback to supervisees on case strategy, filings, and other work product, and co-counsel cases as appropriate. The Supervising Attorney will model and advance client-centered and trauma-informed practices. They will also support fellows and staff attorneys on their family law and overall caseload management and performing legal consultations and screenings. The Supervising Attorney will be responsible for administrative and management tasks including ensuring timekeeping and compliance with case management and recordkeeping. The Supervising Attorney will report to the Family Law Managing Attorney. DCALF is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible.

Responsibilities

Supervision

• Help lead DCALF’s family law practice and DCALF’s arm of the Family Law Assistance Network. This practice includes brief and long-term representation in the following types of cases: custody, visitation, child support, alimony, annulment, divorce, property distribution, SIJS predicate orders, and will include direct supervision of fellows, staff attorneys, and other legal team members, based on organizational need.
• Active engagement, guidance, and feedback in all case phases including: consultations; client counseling; internal strategy calls and calls with third parties; alternative dispute resolution; discovery; pleadings, motions practice, and other written advocacy; hearing and trial preparation; and court appearances.
• Assess staff capacity and contribute to decisions around allocation of work.
• Provide case management and litigation planning support.
• Demonstrate and counsel supervisees on effective time management. Implement and ensure compliance with DCALF’s evolving policies and procedures.
• Identify and assist with resolving potential ethical issues as they arise.
• Deliver and receive feedback to/from staff.
• Monitor developments in family law and disseminate information to family law case handlers for integration into practice.

Organizational Leadership & Administration

• Assist organization with drafting, implementing, and upholding new and existing policies and best practices.
• Foster growth of an inclusive and equitable workplace.
• Monitor and enhance compliance with case management and data entry requirements. Maintain and track internal data.
• Lead regular family law or general practice case rounds. Assist with and lead other internal and external trainings, as needed.
• Ensure staff concerns and questions are communicated to senior leadership team.
• Serve as a DCALF representative for external stakeholder meetings, as needed.
• Assist with family law pro bono work and pro bono mentoring, as needed.

Personal Workload

• Maintain a modest family law caseload, and co-counsel cases as necessary.
• Participate in regular meetings with the Family Law Managing Attorney to review case progress and assess staff/fellow professional development.
• Engage in regular trainings and community events to advance substantive and supervision skills, equity initiatives, and knowledge of community legal resources.

Development

• As necessary, assist in drafting grant reports and culling data for grant applications.
• Assist in drafting grant applications and with grant reporting, as needed.
• Participate in brainstorming ideas for future grants, fundraising, social media, and DCALF growth.

Qualifications

• Membership in the DC Bar;
• Minimum of two years’ experience practicing family law in a legal services or private practice setting;
• Minimum of one year of supervisory experience required;
• Experience in DC Superior Court strongly preferred;
• Leadership and decision-making skills;
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity;
• Ability to foster strong collaborative relationships with clients, colleagues, partner organizations, and other constituents;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Willingness to reflect upon constructive feedback; and
• Strong negotiation, mediation, time-management, and organization skills.

The starting annual salary for this position is $79,310, with increases to starting salary based on years of prior supervisory experience. Staff with a demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written Spanish will receive an additional $2,500 in annual compensation.

Work Environment

DCALF is currently working in a hybrid remote/in-person model. Due to the responsibilities of this position, it is paramount that the candidate come into the office or DC Superior Court with ease and regularity, approximately three days per week, consistent with DCALF policies and client or work demands. The ideal candidate for this position must maintain full-time residence in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia to facilitate ease of access to DCALF’s physical office.

Equal Employment Opportunity

DC Affordable Law Firm is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. DCALF strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sex (specifically including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, unhoused status, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation political affiliation, tobacco use, credit information, status as unemployed, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.