Supervising Attorney, Domestic Violence & Family Law Unit

Description

Legal Aid DC, a nonprofit organization with an approximately $18 million annual budget and a staff of approximately 130 employees, is seeking a Supervising Attorney to join our Domestic Violence & Family Law Unit.

Since 1932, Legal Aid has provided civil legal assistance to clients in individual cases and engaged in systemic reform. Currently, we provide individual representation in consumer law, domestic violence/family law, housing, public benefits, and immigration matters. We also help people with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system and provide crime victim advocacy to survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking. From the experiences of our clients, we identify opportunities for law reform, public policy advocacy, and systemic impact and appellate litigation. Legal Aid also administers the DC Resource Bridge, a single access point for legal services in the District.

Legal Aid believes that meaningful pursuit of our anti-poverty mission requires an unwavering commitment to racial justice and equity. We aspire both to reflect the rich racial diversity of the communities we serve and to value, respect, and empower our staff and clients to be effective agents of change. For more information about Legal Aid please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org.

Our work is supported through public and private grants and private fundraising from individuals, law firms, and other contributors.

The Domestic Violence and Family Law Unit (DV/Family Law Unit) Supervising Attorney will work closely in a team with co-supervisors to manage attorneys, legal assistants, intake specialists, and a project coordinator. The Supervising Attorney will report to the Managing Attorney of the DV/Family Law Unit.

Responsibilities

Supervising Attorney Staff:

• Provide routine supervision and feedback for attorneys and other staff, including at regular case review meetings
• Offer substantive feedback on written work and trial preparation
• Attend hearings to provide support and guidance to supervisees
• Participate in annual performance management processes
• Support supervisees’ performance goals and professional development by working to identify strengths and areas for growth, and monitoring set goals
• Monitor administrative systems for supervisee compliance with organizational requirements, including timekeeping and leave, case management, and community engagement tracking
• Ensure that supervisees are meeting case targets while providing high quality legal services

Leadership and Management of the Unit:

In coordination with the Managing Attorney and supervisor colleagues:

• Convene regular unit meetings
• Manage pro bono mentorship
• Identify or lead training opportunities
• Create uniform systems and polices for the Unit
• Set priorities for Unit case handling
• Review and assign intakes
• Manage grant applications and reports
• Coordinate with partner organizations and the court to staff community and courthouse projects
• Provide direct legal services on complex family law and domestic violence cases either as sole or co-counsel

In collaboration with the Managing Attorney and the Director of the Barbara McDowell Appellate Project:

• Monitor, review, and participate in the discussion or conducting of appellate cases with a potential impact on domestic violence or family law

In collaboration with the Managing Attorney and the Director of Policy Advocacy:

• Identify and advance policy goals to address systemic issues affecting domestic violence survivors, custodial parents, and low-income child support obligors
• Liaise with the DC courts, relevant city agencies, and legal services partner organizations to promote access to justice and the smooth operation of the Unit’s multiple courthouse projects

Leadership of the Organization:

• Supervise intake and conflict clearance
• Consider the impact of proposed organization-wide policies or actions on the DV/Family Law Unit, as well as the impact on the entire organization
• Participate in organization-wide discussions and initiatives

People & Culture:

• Actively participate as part of the team of Supervisors and Project Directors in crafting and advancing organizational initiatives 
• Help to foster and reflect an inclusive organizational culture

Qualifications

Membership or eligibility for membership in the DC bar is required. Candidates for the Supervising Attorney position should have the following:

• A minimum of seven years of experience in legal services, ideally in domestic violence and/or family law
• A demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice
• Significant experience in managing a litigation practice
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and organizational responsibilities
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with clients, staff, partner organizations, pro bono attorneys, the judiciary, and members of local legal services and advocacy coalitions
• Ability to work skillfully, both independently and collaboratively with teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing or supervising attorneys
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish, Amharic, or another language spoken by our client community

Salary and Benefits

The attorney will be paid in accordance with Legal Aid’s Supervisor policy based on years of relevant full-time experience. Lateral hires will receive credit for years of relevant work experience. Starting salaries are as follows:

• Supervising attorney with seven years of relevant experience: $120,498
• Supervising attorney with eight years of relevant experience: $122,450
• Supervising attorney with nine years of relevant experience: $124,494

Legal Aid generally provides two salary increases per year: a cost-of-living increase at the beginning of the year and a step increase in July.

Legal Aid offers a generous benefits package including fully paid health insurance for the employee, annual retirement match, 13 paid holidays, 25 days of annual leave per year and 15 days of sick leave per year.

Click here for full salary scale and additional benefits information.

To Apply

Legal Aid values an inclusive, diverse workplace and encourages applications from interested persons from diverse backgrounds of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage applications from people with personal experience with the criminal justice system and/or with lived experiences in the communities we serve.

Interested persons are encouraged to apply immediately and should submit a letter of interest and resume here. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. This position will close at 5pm EST on October 26, 2026. No emails or phone calls, please.