Pro Bono Team Managing Attorney

ICLS seeks an experienced and talented lawyer with a deep commitment to public interest practice and pro bono expertise to join our Pro Bono Team as Managing Attorney – Law School and Local Community Volunteer Programs.

---

At a glance

---

In this role, supervised by the Pro Bono Director and in collaboration with the Pro Bono Team, you will: 1) build and manage a local signature, volunteer program; 2) develop and implement the vision of ICLS’ Student Programs, with assistance from the Project Coordinator; and 3) focus on local volunteer recruiting initiatives, including with law firms, solo practitioners, paralegal programs, and others; 4) assist in other Pro Bono projects and programs; and 5) assist Pro Bono Director in team management responsibilities, as needed.

You’ll also get the opportunity to expand your legal network by working collaboratively with volunteers and community-based organizations, participating in local bar association events (for which ICLS will pay), and learning about the amazing civil legal aid community – local, statewide, and national.

Key Responsibilities

General Duties and Responsibilities:

Under supervision of the Pro Bono Director and in collaboration with the Pro Bono Team, the core responsibilities for the Managing Attorney – Managing Attorney – Law School and Local Community Volunteer Programs are as follows:

Local Signature, Volunteer Program:

• Building and overseeing the day-to-day running of a robust client services program, multiple times a month at various locations in ICLS’ service region, in several legal areas, primarily staffed by ICLS volunteers.
• Overseeing the delivery of legal services through this program, ensuring that staff and volunteers are providing excellent legal services, monitoring case files and compliance, and assisting, as needed, to ensure program success.
• Developing a training curriculum for staff and volunteers on the program, legal areas of assistance, and other logistics.
• Strategically building and expanding this program to include locations, legal areas, ICLS volunteers, among other things, to expand its effectiveness in meeting community demand for in-person legal aid.
• Managing relationships with staff, volunteers, community partners, and others involved in the program.
• Overseeing grant compliance, identifying and applying for additional funding sources, for maintaining and expanding the program.

Overseeing ICLS’ Student Programs:

• Refining and implementing the vision of ICLS’ Student Programs.
• Overseeing ICLS’ student programs, including the Summer Law Clerk Program; Fall, Spring & Winter Internship Programs; College Academy, and others.
• Developing strategies and procedures to identify opportunities to incorporate law students and other student volunteers throughout ICLS.
• Overseeing the annual calendar reflecting ICLS’ Law Student Programs, with the goal of significantly expanding annual student opportunities and placements.
• Developing a strategic plan for building partnerships with law schools and universities, aimed at cultivating stronger community ties and expanded services.
• In partnership with ICLS’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee, developing strategies ensuring equitable student opportunities.
• Overseeing at least one legal clinic with a law school to be replicated throughout the year and providing adequate training and oversight of students.
• Being responsible for student volunteers, including onboarding, training, case management as appropriate, collecting hours, enforcing policies and procedures, and collaborating with advocates at ICLS as needed.
• Overseeing development and grant strategies to increase funding for ICLS’ Student Programs, including with writing, implementation, and reporting to grantors and funders.
• Representing ICLS in the broader community as a leader for Law Student Programs.
• Supervising, training, and managing the Project Coordinator – Student Programs to assist in program execution.

Managing Local Volunteer Initiatives:

• Refining and implementing the vision of ICLS’ Local Pro Bono Strategies.
• Overseeing ICLS’ local volunteer initiatives, including with local law firms, solo practitioners, bar associations, and other groups of volunteers.
• Developing strategies and procedures to identify meaningful opportunities for volunteers to help ICLS clients.
• Overseeing at least three legal clinics with local volunteers, each year, and providing adequate training and oversight of volunteers.
• Being responsible for volunteers, including onboarding, training, case management as appropriate, collecting hours, enforcing policies and procedures, and collaborating with advocates at ICLS as needed.
• Overseeing development and grant strategies to increase funding for ICLS’ Local Volunteer Initiatives, including with writing, implementation, and reporting to grantors and funders.
• Representing ICLS in the broader community as a leader for Local Volunteer Initiatives.

Assisting on Other Pro Bono Projects and Initiatives:

• Building and facilitating sustainable community partnerships that help to expand community relationships, build client pipelines, strengthen volunteer relationships, and/or elevate ICLS’s profile in the region. 
• Expanding legal expertise in your primary area(s) of practice, enabling program growth to provide an appropriate range of C&A, brief services, and extended services, independently and/or through the assistance of volunteers.   
• Developing training materials for attorneys and other volunteers to provide a base understanding of clients, community, and area of law.  
• Assisting with data collection, project management and evaluation, and case compliance. 
• Participating in local, statewide, and national pro bono community initiatives. 
• Advancing justice and addressing systemic legal challenges, including injustices that have historically disadvantaged those with limited financial means, persons of color, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, older adults, among other groups. 
• Building expertise with and following Legal Services Corporation regulations and other funder requirements as appropriate.

Team Management Responsibilities:

As needed, the Managing Attorney will assist the Pro Bono Director with the following:

• Reviewing timekeeping and expense reports.
• Drafting annual employee evaluations and work plans.
• Onboarding new staff and training on practice group-specific rules and subject matter.
• Identifying staff training/development needs and helping to locate resources.
• Ensuring case compliance.
• Overseeing team-specific grant requirements - meetings, reports, etc.
• Helping to identify potential grant and funding opportunities related to the practice area.
• Overseeing the quality and accuracy of legal work performed by the team's advocates, particularly non-attorneys.

The Successful Candidate

• Degree from law school and active member of the California Bar in good standing
• At least 4 years of legal experience
• At least 3 years of experience working with and/or creating pro bono opportunities for law students, attorneys, and other volunteers.
• Supervisory, mentoring, and management experience in a legal environment preferred
• Ability to work in a collaborative team model
• Demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of poverty law and justice
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, including but not limited to seniors
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Knowledge in various practice areas within civil legal services practice preferred
• Grant-writing and fundraising experience preferred
• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable but not required

Qualities:

To be successful, a Managing Attorney should have the following qualities:

• Willingness to learn from and work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Patience with clients, staff, and self.
• Approachable for staff, clients, and the community ICLS serves.
• An openness to communicate challenges and an intentional practice to express gratitude to their colleagues.
• Determination to get the best outcome for clients.
• Curiosity and desire to learn about client’s experiences that led to the legal issue, including systemic injustices that have historically disadvantaged persons of color and individuals with low income.
• Passion and dedication to access to justice via civil legal aid.
• Hard-working but appreciative of a work-life balance; setting and respecting boundaries for themselves and others.
• Ability to have a healthy and sustainable practice to manage stress and vicarious trauma or willingness to learn practices that may be helpful in these regards.
• Community Centered; Inquisitive
• Passion for continuous learning and personal and professional growth.
• Committed to mentorship for self and mentoring others, as applicable based on experience level.
• Ability and willingness to travel to libraries, courts, senior centers, and community locations throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Skills: 

• Active listening skills 
• Trauma-informed interviewing skills  
• Legal writing and research skills 
• Courtroom/trial experience
• Analytical skills 
• Willingness to learn and be mentored 
• Bilingual (preferred)
• Negotiation  

Apply now