Careers

Position: Senior Staff Attorney
Status: Exempt, Full-Time (40 hours per week)
Department: Legal Services
Reports To: Executive Director and/or Director of Programs
Supervises: N/A


Overall Scope:
The Senior Staff Attorney offers civil legal services to clients of the YWCA Domestic Violence Counseling and Shelter Programs.

Accountability:
The Senior Staff Attorney reports to the Executive Director and/or Director of Programs

Responsibilities:

  • Provide information and referral and legal consultation and advice to clients related to domestic violence and family law, including:
    1. Civil and criminal legal options and resources
    2. Civil order of protection remedies and procedures
    3. Family law options and procedures
    4. Referrals to free, monthly Woman’s Center workshops on “Legal Aspects of Separation and Divorce” and “Emotional Aspects of Separation and Divorce”
    5. Referrals to the Victim Assistance for Spousal Abuse Program (VASA)
    6. Referrals to private attorneys
  • Provide legal representation at protective and peace order hearings
  • Provide legal representation in family law matters including separation and divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, marital property and other related issues
  • Respond to legal information telephone calls as needed
  • Adjunct responsibilities will include the maintenance and submission of hours worked, completion and submission of client forms, maintenance of client files, collection of client data, submission of client and financial information for reports to funders and YWCA, completion of statistic reports as assigned, completion of funder reporting requirements as assigned
  • Consultation and coordination with Woman’s Center/Domestic Violence staff as needed
  • Also may include: provision of legal information and training for Woman’s Center staff and community groups, supervision of a law student, consultation with Woman’s Center staff to develop a short and long-term plan for a YWCA Family Law Legal Services Program.
Desired Qualifications:
  1. Law Degree
  2. Experience in family law preferred
  3. Experience and interest in domestic violence preferred
  4. Strong advocacy skills and commitment to clients
  5. Commitment to the development of legal resources for women and low-income clients
  6. Knowledge of community resources preferred
  7. Excellent communication skills
  8. Ability to use a computer to complete legal forms (no secretarial service provided)
  9. Ability to maintain complete and accurate records
  10. Flexible time availability
  11. Willingness to supervise students and interns to expand program services.
  12. Interest in building a Family Law Legal Services Program
  13. Committed to the mission and vision of the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.