Description:

Position Announcement: Family Preservation Family Law Managing Attorney

Position Description:
Mother's Outreach Network is seeking a Managing Attorney. This is a critical and senior role in the organization. The position will be responsible for shepherding, developing, and helping to grow our legal practice into a full-fledged national model. While cultivating a broader program, the Managing Attorney will simultaneously perform legal advocacy work in cross-cutting practice areas that preserve families at risk of permanent separation in the District of Columbia. The position will build infrastructure while managing a caseload. Their work to vigorously pursue defensive and affirmative representation to prevent removals of children from their families. This will include representation during the early phases of involvement with Child Protective Services. The efforts will also include assistance with third party custody matters, and will representation for appeals for removal from the Child Protection Register. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in an organization that is rapidly growing. The culture of the organization being created requires a contributor who can thrive in a fast-paced environment with the Executive Director and other staff. The position reports to the Attorney-Executive Director of Mother's Outreach Network.

Responsibilities:
The Managing Family Preservation Family Law Attorney may be required to:

Represent and provide varied legal services to mothers who are undergoing investigation by the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) or have open in-home family cases and are being monitored by CFSA as they seek to mitigate the conditions leading to agency involvement and to retain custody of their children.
Represent parents who have been placed on DC Child and Family Services Agency's Child Protection Register. This includes conducting outreach to engage clients, client intakes, client interviews, case-related investigations, and referrals, performing discovery, participating in mediations and hearings, communicating with clients, coordinating follow-up with constituents.
Represent and provide brief legal services to parents who seek assistance in our advice clinics, and community education programs.
Coordinate and engage in community education, outreach, and communications related to legal programs, our legal clinics, and clinic operations.
Manage the legal program's full-time paralegal.
Recruit and supervise pro bono attorneys and other legal volunteers.
Assist with grant applications and grant reports.
Other duties related to the position as assigned by the Executive Director and as supported by funding.

Qualifications & Requirements:

The candidate must possess a Juris Doctor, and have or be able to obtain, DC Bar membership;
3 to 5 years of administrative advocacy or litigation experience or deep experience providing direct legal services, preferably within a small law practice or nonprofit setting, commensurate with the role;
The ability to work independently while contributing to the success of the team;
Background in third party custody representation, special education, civil rights or criminal law are highly desirable;
Poverty-centered focus with attention to racial equity analysis and how these issues impact no and low-income Black mothers;
Ability to work evenings and weekends for meetings, as needed;
Experience representing Black families in the child welfare system a plus;
The ability to work independently as well as part of a team;
Trauma-informed and culturally competent, sensitive, and compassionate advocacy skills;
Strong work ethic;
Excellent legal research and writing skills;
Ability to juggle multiple tasks at a time and to thrive in a fast-paced environment;
Enthusiasm to learn, take direction, and accept constructive feedback;
Ability to work and meet with others in a hybrid environment;
Flexible, positive and passionate about Mother's Outreach Network's mission and values;