Supervising Attorney of the Economic Fairness Units (Consumer, Bankruptcy, Employment)

POSITION: Supervising Attorney of the Economic Fairness Units (Consumer, Bankruptcy, Employment)

DAYS/HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

REPORTS TO: Geraldine Gruvis-Pizarro, Esq., Executive Director

LOCATION: 7 Winthrop Square, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02110 * Hybrid

SALARY: $100,785

• Position is hybrid necessitating 2 in-person days each week, which includes weekly in-person court clinics in the Boston area, not including 1 in-person unit day

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) is a non-profit legal services organization that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Greater Boston, primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys.

The supervising attorney will provide oversight and support in substantive law and general litigation practice. A clearly defined substantive supervisory structure will elevate the skills of the attorneys in the Economic Fairness Unit and improve the consistency, accuracy, and depth of the advice and mentoring given to both VLP staff and pro bono attorneys, to better serve our clients and community. The supervising attorney will also rotate as an on-call attorney at our call center.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Law degree from an accredited law school
• Admission to and good standing in Massachusetts bar
• 2+ years in full-time in consumer and bankruptcy law, including litigation.
• 2+ years supervising legal work
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and with staff at outside organizations
• Ability to effectively engage with the private bar to recruit, train, and mentor volunteer attorneys
• Ability to use a computer several hours per day
• Ability to communicate in person, by telephone, and by computer
• Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in Greater Boston

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Maintain expertise in consumer, bankruptcy and employment law
• Lead weekly unit case reviews and provide oversight on follow-through
• Effectively and efficiently handle a small caseload
• Supervise weekly consumer clinics and other clinics as needed
• Provide substantive law supervision at clinics and as needed to unit staff attorneys, including answering questions and reviewing advice and drafts of documents and closing cases
• Develop training for staff on consumer, bankruptcy and employment matters as well as general litigation
• Supervise staff attorneys in the Economic Fairness Unit, including reviewing and approving time for payroll, approving time-off requests, and approving training requests
• Supervise and mentor paralegals, interns, and pro bono attorneys
• Review cases for merit and alignment with priorities
• Recruit and maintain relationships with volunteers from the private bar
• Conduct trainings for volunteers, often during evening hours
• Prepare cases for pro bono assignment, including reviewing memos and documents
• Assist in placement of cases with pro bono attorneys
• Monitor pro bono cases to ensure quality and competent representation
• Participation in legal aid coalitions and collaborations
• Assist with grant applications and reports
• Other responsibilities as needed

Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our ideal candidates are respectful of an inclusive work environment. VLP strives to ensure that those working in our organization reflect the communities we serve. VLP encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions.