Legal Program Manager/Senior Attorney

SUMMARY

The Legal Program Manager/Senior Attorney plans, directs, and leads the YWCA's Legal Services Program, which provides protection order and family law assistance to survivors of intimate partner violence. This position maintains a limited case load and provides zealous legal representation to clients in family law and protection order cases. This position ensures that program obligations are carried out in accordance with all required laws and contracts, and within best-practice parameters. Responsible for short and long-term planning and strategy, staff development, assisting in budget development, quality assurance, and outcome and statistical reporting. The Managing Attorney functions as part of the leadership team for the agency.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Functions as a YWCA leader by actively promoting the YWCA’s mission, inspiring a shared vision, modeling YWCA’s ethics and values, encouraging others to be their best, embracing innovation, and looking forward toward the future of the YWCA.
• Implements policies, procedures, and safety measures for survivors of domestic violence and their children in accordance with all applicable Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) standards and all other federal, state, and local statutes, including trauma-informed and antiracist practices that build belonging and inclusion, and are approached with cultural humility.
• Participates in YWCA strategic planning to determine goals and scope of direct service programs.
• Works with supervisor and leadership team to measure and track strategic plan accomplishments and to forward the overall mission of the YWCA.
• Actively participates in Leadership Team, staff meetings, and scheduled internal training.
• Attends to risk management as needed, in partnership with the CEO and Human Resources.

Supervision

• Sets and models standards for and monitors conduct of supervised programs to ensure that position competencies and YWCA policy, ethics, and values are fully implemented.
• Develops work plans and assigns priorities for staff in alignment with agency strategic plan.
• Ensures compliance with continuing education requirements for self and staff.
• Supports professional development of supervised staff and plans resources accordingly.
• Works with Human Resources and supervisor to recruit, interview, hire, train, coach, support, implement corrective action, and evaluate program staff.
• Works with Operations staff to address facility and technology issues in the legal program.
• Supervises and supports Attorney(s), Paralegal(s) and Legal Advocates. Supports volunteers or interns in the program.
• Ensures that all Legal Services staff members follow legal and organizational procedures and applicable laws, give accurate information, and protect the confidentiality and well-being of clients.
• Ensures that program staff are meeting established benchmarks for client service hours.

Program Oversight and Development

• Oversees the planning, development, and implementation of all aspects of the Legal Services Program including advocacy program for survivors of domestic violence, direct representation of clients, facilitation of public events and educational programs.
• Partners with supervised staff to address critical program issues, client conflicts or situations of a critical nature within the department.
• Ensures that all Legal Services advocacy adheres to the principles of Advocacy Based Counseling (ABC) and Trauma-Informed Care according to agency standards.
• Respectfully resolves client grievances and addresses client concerns.
• Partners with supervisor and/or Fund Development to seek and secure program funding.
• Ensures accuracy and timeliness of program data collection and reporting.
• Partners with supervisor and program team to annually evaluate program goals, capacity, progress toward goals, and implements any adjustments needed, in consideration of client feedback and need.
• Partners with supervisor and Director of Finance to prepare program’s annual operating budget.
• Accurately tracks expenditures and authorizes expenditure requests for department within signing authority limits.

Representation of Clients

• Represents clients in court, or before administrative agencies.
• Gathers evidence in civil and other cases to formulate response or to initiate legal action.
• Conducts research, interviews clients and witnesses, and handles other details in preparation for court appearances.
• Prepares legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments, and testimony in preparation for presentation of cases.
• Files briefs, motions, and ex parte orders in Pierce County Superior Court.
• Participates in mediation and settlement conferences with clients.
• Interprets laws, rulings, and regulations for clients and department staff.
• Consults with non-represented clients who are working with a staff legal advocate to advise them of rights and provide legal advice.

Partner Engagement

• May provide legal advocacy training to advocates, and community agencies, make presentations at conferences, and/or participate in community legal clinics, upon request.
• Participates in agency or community work teams, including committees, task forces, or event planning, upon request.
• Convenes quarterly Coordinated Community Response meetings, in alignment with STOP grant funding.
• Partners with supervisor, Fund Development, and other victims’ service agencies to pursue funding opportunities to enhance the provision of legal services within the community as a whole.
• Provides general leadership in the community and with community partners when representing the YWCA. Works with community collaborations, coalitions, and/or other community groups and organizations to extend the programs and functions of the YWCA, and to increase awareness of the YWCA and its mission.

This is a general description of the responsibilities of this position, and it is not inclusive of all job duties; other associate duties may be assigned or changed as needed to meet program and agency goals.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Models the YWCA mission of empowerment and social justice to staff and clients.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership, vision, and a value for diversity.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with clients, staff, volunteers, and community members and partners.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to listen actively and respond in a timely, competent manner.
• Strong ability to problem-solve and adapt to change needs and growth.
• Ability to create short- and long-term vision for program.
• Ability to make sound, ethical decisions.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and willingly accept responsibility.
• Ability to apply reasonable standards of safety and recognize and correct unsafe situations.
• Commitment to work effectively with diverse people.
• Commitment and ability to work with survivors of trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of trauma.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to explain complex concepts in a simple and straightforward way.
• Detail oriented with a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to write plans, reports, and letters.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or Boards of Directors.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts found in financial statements and budgets, computer-based client/case tracking programs, and fundamentals of outcome-based evaluation (OBE) tracking and reporting.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Legal Services supervises the Legal Services Program Manager, paralegal(s), and attorney(s) in the program and provides the manager support in supervising Legal Advocates. As a supervisor, this position is responsible for carrying out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. These responsibilities include staff development, training, supervision, consultation, and performance evaluation. This position designs and develops the roles of the supervised staff and directs and redirects their work as needed. This position resolves staff conflicts and/or challenges as they arise.