Director, Family Law Program

Benefits:

• FSA Health, Dependent Care, and Commute Plans
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Training & development

Supervised by: Managing Director, Family Law & Protective Orders Program
Status: Full-time

The Director of Family Law is a knowledgeable leader who supervises a team of professionals providing the highest quality, holistic family law services to survivors of gender-based violence.

Essential Responsibilities

Client Services (approximately 50% of the position)

• Provide high-quality representation for survivors of gender-based violence seeking remedies in Domestic Relations Division.
• Manage a case load of ongoing Domestic Relations cases, including effective representation of clients in contested hearings.
• Perform intake functions, interviewing potential clients to evaluate cases for representation.
• Maintain client files, noting all deadlines, communications, and other relevant information.
• Coordinate with the agency’s Client Support Coordinator and other colleagues to ensure that the client receives seamless, holistic services.
• Deliver services according to principles of trauma-informed care.

Management (approximately 45% of the position)

• Responsible for oversight and management of the delivery of family legal services.
• Monitor attorney caseloads with an eye toward equity, maximizing agency capacity and staff retention.
• Schedule and run case acceptance meetings.
• Supervise assigned staff. Conduct supervision and evaluations. Conduct necessary disciplinary, terminations, and other personnel actions in accordance with personnel policies.
• Provide ongoing mentoring, including strategic growth for assigned staff, and monitor individual work plans.
• Ensure high quality of client services through attorney training and supervision.
• Responsible for ensuring that attorneys are in compliance with applicable licensing requirements and ethical duties to clients, including ongoing training to maintain high levels of expertise in their respective subject matter.
• With the Managing Director, develop and monitor metrics for success.
• Ensure that program attorneys stay abreast of changes in law and procedures and disseminate information to staff as necessary.
• With the Managing Director, draft position descriptions and participate in hiring.
• Manage case acceptance process for family law clients, including timely notification of case acceptance decisions and appropriate division of case-handling responsibilities among family law attorneys.
• Develop training materials and opportunities for staff attorneys, volunteers and interns.

Volunteers/Interns

• With the Director of Pro Bono Services, review and hire legal and undergraduate interns
• Manage and oversee intern assignments and supervision

Administration (approximately 5% of the position)

• Design and disseminate periodic reports related to project metrics, including but not limited to case acceptance, case outcomes, and client demographics.
• Maintain the Program’s docket, including cases accepted and under consideration for representation.
• Ensure that client intake and case-handling processes capture all data required for funders and for internal assessments.

Other Responsibilities

• Actively participate in required staff meetings, trainings.
• Keep abreast of the field by maintaining networks, participating in professional organizations.
• Protect the organization by keeping information confidential.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Work Environment

• This role requires at least 40% of work to be done in person.
• Courthouse and offices are fully accessible. Some work at off-site locations may be required, and those may not necessarily be fully accessible.
• Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employee is regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer.
• Smoke- and drug-free environment.

Qualifications

• JD and license to practice law required.
• Minimum of two years of supervisory experience, with proven ability to develop goals and metrics for direct reports and ensure accountability
• Minimum of seven years of practice of family law. Experience serving victims of domestic violence preferred.
• 40-hour trained, licensed to practice law in Illinois.
• Strong self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a hectic work environment.
• Ability to work effectively with key partners to develop and implement program goals.
• Innovative thinker capable of diplomatic communications with diverse stakeholders.
• Spanish language proficiency, including the ability to interview and represent clients with limited or no-English speaking abilities, is preferred
• Ability to develop and implement short and long-term litigation strategies
• Familiarity with principles of trauma-informed care and willingness to complete additional training
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations
• Knowledge of or experience with working with survivors of gender-based or intimate partner violence
• Ability to communicate effectively with people in crisis
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication and time management skills
• Sense of humor

Ascend Justice is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. Ascend Justice does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual’s race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, or any other non-merit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Ascend Justice is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team. Applicants/clients wishing to lodge a complaint about discrimination in the provision of services can do so by contacting the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The ICJIA nondiscrimination policy can be found on the ICJIA website at http://www.icjia.org/grants/grant-resources. Applicants can also send complaints via e-mail to CJA.CivilRightsOfficer@illinois.gov

Flexible work from home options available.