PURPOSE STATEMENT: To oversee, support, and represent Ayuda’s legal programs, including Immigration, Domestic Violence/Family Law, Children’s Legal Services, Pro Bono, and Project END across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE 

Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing direct legal, social and language access services, education, and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Since 1973, Ayuda has provided critical services on a wide range of issues, in the process acquiring nationally recognized expertise in several fields including immigration law, language access, domestic violence and human trafficking. Ayuda has office locations in Washington, DC, Silver Spring, MD and Fairfax, VA.  

TEAM PROFILE 

The Legal Director will oversee Ayuda's legal team, with the assistance of the Associate Legal Director. Ayuda’s staff attorneys and pro bono program serve more than 3,000 women, men, and children every year by helping them obtain visas, work authorization, legal status, and more. Ayuda’s immigration legal team represents low-income immigrants from all over the world in immigration matters before the Baltimore and Arlington Immigration Courts, local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, the Arlington Asylum Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Ayuda’s domestic violence/family law program provides free family law, protection order and crime victims’ rights legal services to low-income, immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Finally, Project END provides advice, counsel, and representation to victims of fraud in civil, criminal, and immigration proceedings. Overall, Ayuda's legal team includes approximately 50 staff across the DMV area and implements more than 50 grants with a budget of over $5 million.   

WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB? 

Because, just like everyone at Ayuda, you believe: 

• In seeing communities where all immigrants succeed and thrive in the United States. 
• In the overall success of our organization and all our programs. 
• That families should be healthy and safe from harm. 
• That all people should have access to professional, honest, and ethical services, regardless of ability to pay or status in this country. 
• That diversity and equality make this country better. 

WHAT WILL THIS JOB ENTAIL? 

Leadership and Supervision 

• Ensure the delivery of client-centered, high-quality legal services across Ayuda’s offices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.  

• Provide supervision to Associate Legal Director, Legal Managers, and other positions as needed. 

• Provide strategic direction for the legal program within Ayuda and lead the team towards meeting goals and objectives. 

• Represent Ayuda in meetings with prospective grantors and donors to support Ayuda’s fundraising efforts. 

• Support Communications & Development team by drafting external legal updates and supporting participation in media interviews by legal team.    

• Represent Ayuda and its clients at local and regional stakeholder, coalition, and advocacy meetings.   

• Participate in Ayuda’s efforts to bring about systemic change on behalf of our clients. 

• Represent the legal program as a member of Ayuda’s Senior Management Team, supporting organizational management and strategic planning and implementation. 

Program Strategy, Development, Management, Evaluation and Improvement 

• Monitor and ensure all program deliverables are met, especially those tied to grants and client service outcomes. 

• In collaboration with the Associate Legal Director, maintain and develop consistent practices and policies across legal programs. 

• Manage Ayuda’s delivery of low-bono fee-based immigration legal services. 

• Collaborate with Ayuda’s Social Services and Language Access programs to ensure the provision of holistic services. 

• Stay informed about legal changes and help to communicate legal changes and their significance to staff.   

Grants, Contracts, and Financial Management 

• With support from the Associate Legal Director, oversee the entire lifecycle of grants from application through to reporting. 

• With support from the Associate Legal Director, oversee financial management and compliance of grants for the legal program, including client trust accounts for the low-bono fee-based services.   

• With support from the Associate Legal Director, manage legal program budget, including overseeing the overall annual budget as well as providing support and oversight to Managing Attorneys on individual legal grant budgets (preparation, revisions, etc). 

• Provide oversight to legal program managers and collaborate with Grants and Finance staff for grant management, including grant reporting and grant applications. 

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THIS JOB? 

Eligibility Requirements:   

• Must be legally able to work in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment. Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position presented in a general office environment.  
• This position can have a base office located in one of our offices but will require regular visits to each office. This position is hybrid and will include both in-person and remote workdays. 

Qualifications: 

The following qualifications are the qualities, experiences, and skills we seek in a candidate. Candidates who don't feel that they meet every single qualification, but who still believe they’d be the right fit for this role, are encouraged to consider applying! We're eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways -- not just candidates who check all the boxes. 

Education/Experience:  

• J.D. or L.L.M. degree from an accredited law school and licensed and in good standing to practice law in any U.S. state or territory.  

• 5+ years of experience providing legal services to low-income immigrants (immigration, domestic violence/family law and/or consumer law experience preferred but not required).   

• 4+ years of supervisory experience.  

• Program management including grant and financial experience required.    

• Experience working with low-income immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse/neglect or other forms of trauma. 

Preferred Knowledge and?Skills:  

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, flexibility, and good humor. 

• Excellent judgment, calm demeanor even under pressure, strong work ethic, resourceful, and able to maintain confidentiality. 

• Decisive, with ability to exercise independent judgment. 

• Proven ability to develop and maintain and positive team environment and support staff morale and resilience. 

• Ability to mentor, train and provide career path guidance to staff. 

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to initiate and follow through on work independently. 

• Excellent time management skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment. 

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities. 

• Program evaluation and project management skills. 

• Knowledge of a second language a plus, with Spanish language skills preferred (examples of other languages commonly spoken by Ayuda’s clients include Amharic, Arabic, Tagalog, French, and Portuguese). 

SALARY AND BENEFITS: 

The anticipated salary for this position is $135,000-145,000, depending on experience.  

We are proud of the benefits we can offer that include:   

• Platinum-level medical insurance plan 100% employer-paid 
• Dental and vision insurance 100% employer paid 
• Long-term disability insurance 100% employer paid 
• Life and AD&D insurance 100% employer paid 
• Pre-tax 401(k) with Employer match on first 3% of salary 
• Vacation Days: 21 days per year until year 3, 27 per year in years 3-7 and 33 days per year after 7 years employment. Employees begin with 3 days of vacation leave.  
• New employees begin with 5 days of Health & Wellness (sick) leave and accrue an additional 5 hours per pay period plus emergency medical leave up to 12 weeks per year 
• 12 weeks paid parental leave/family leave 
• 24 days paid holidays and staff wellness days, including Winter Break the last week of the year 
• Job-related professional development fees (including annual state bar dues and professional memberships) 
• Flexible work schedules 

This position is exempt for overtime purposes.    

Employees with federal student loan debt may be eligible to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the Department of Education.  For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.  

TO APPLY: 

Please apply with resume and cover letter.? Writing samples may be requested. 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Apply early for full consideration. No phone calls, please. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT: 

Ayuda is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.  

We believe that a diversity of experiences, opinions, and backgrounds is integral to achieving our mission and vision. We celebrate diversity and seek to leverage the passion, energy, and ideas of a culturally diverse team.