Equal Justice Works seeks a respected, experienced and dynamic leader to serve as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer to assist in leading an $8 million national nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a just society by mobilizing the next generation of lawyers.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Primarily responsible for day-to-day operations of the entire organization by overseeing the work of programs, development, finances, communications, technology and human resources.

 Provide information, advice and counsel to the Chief Executive Officer, Board Committees and the Board of Directors in the creation of policies, programs and strategic direction of the organization.

 Be fully involved and assist with the strategic planning and implementation process.

 Responsible for the overall leadership of staff in the development and implementation of short and long range plans, policies and other activities.

 Responsible for ensuring that the organization prioritizes resources and has strong internal systems to support programming and mission. This includes fiscal, data and information management; tracking programmatic outcomes; technology resources; and human resources.

 Responsible for administration of overall operation of the organization, including: reviewing and evaluating the results of program activities; ensuring that continuing contractual obligations are being fulfilled; allocating resources to ensure program effectiveness and efficiency; developing organizational and administrative policies; and defining program objectives.

 Provide leadership to create a positive work environment, maintain the organization’s high-quality work and continue to attract and retain excellent employees.

 Responsible for overseeing the fiscal management of the organization including the development and implementation of the annual budget and working with the development director to ensure the organization secures needed resources.

QUALIFICATIONS:
 Possess a genuine interest and passion in the mission and programs of Equal Justice Works.

 Must be collegial, a good team player and possess a personality and work style that ensures that the internal atmosphere is open and collaborative.

 Preferable that the candidate has worked in an organization that has conducted significant fundraising in order to connect the importance of programs and fundraising.

 Must be an experienced and effective manager and problem solver with a track record of developing, motivating and supervising senior staff who have specialized knowledge in their areas of responsibility.

 Have a track record of innovation, both in improving existing programs and developing new programs.

 Be a creative problem-solver, especially in light of limited resources and unanticipated opportunities and challenges.

 Possess strong planning skills.

 Must be an excellent oral and written communicator and listener.

 Possess good strategic judgment. Being politically astute is a plus.

 Must have a relevant postgraduate degree and ten (10) years relevant work experience at a senior management level with at least five (5) years as a supervisor; or bachelor’s degree and twelve (12) years relevant work experience at a senior management level with at least seven (7) years as a supervisor.

 Must be an attorney and have extensive program, personnel management and fiscal management experience (knowledge of finances and experience working with budgets a must.). Ideally will have experience in providing legal services to underserved communities or causes.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Salary commensurate with experience; comprehensive and generous benefits package, including loan repayment assistance, full health insurance coverage for employee, employer sponsored disability insurance program, monthly transportation stipend, retirement plan up to 8% employer match, 4 weeks vacation, sick leave, 11 federal holidays and summer hours.

TO APPLY:
Applicants should send a cover letter, résumé and salary requirements to Deputy Chief Executive Officer Search Committee, Equal Justice Works, 2120 L St, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC, 20037 or email your materials to deputy_ceo_search@equaljusticeworks.org. Resumes will be reviewed as they are received.  Posted 5/09/06

The Northwest Justice Project (NJP) is seeking an Executive Director to lead a well-respected, innovative not-for-profit corporation established to provide civil legal services to low-income people throughout Washington State. NJP is part of a strong and extensive statewide alliance of legal aid providers, funders and supporters.
About the Position

NJP seeks a respected, experienced and energetic leader who is passionate about making equal justice a reality for thousands of low-income Washington residents. This leader will work with a diverse and dedicated Board of Directors and an experienced and committed staff, as well as with the Washington State Alliance for Equal Justice (the Alliance). The next Executive Director of NJP will have the opportunity to build on the solid foundation and vision of this respected yet still young organization, furthering its role as the largest provider of civil legal aid in Washington, a partner in the Alliance, and a valued leader nationally.

High priority roles and responsibilities for the new Executive Director include:

• Continuing the NJP’s leadership in providing high quality advocacy for and with low-income clients to secure justice
• Developing a clear strategic vision for NJP, together with board, staff, clients and community, in its current size as a $15 million statewide legal aid program
• Maintaining the fiscal and operational integrity of the organization by working closely with the management team to meet Legal Services Corporation compliance regulations, including annual audits and program integrity requirements
• Providing leadership within the Alliance in implementing the State Plan goals (see About Access to Justice in Washington State, below)
• Maintaining an effective and collaborative relationship with state and federal funders
• Ensuring NJP’s leadership and management structure correspond with recent growth and expanding legal services community responsibilities under the State Plan
• Developing, supporting and engaging an expanded Board of Directors
• Sustaining and nourishing the respectful relationships among staff at NJP, and protecting and enhancing the diversity, experience, commitment and morale within the program
• Maintaining the effective use of technology for client services through the centralized telephone intake, brief service and referral system -- CLEAR; the implementation of a statewide case management system; technology training and support; and prudent technology investment
• Serving as a public voice for NJP, low-income clients and under-represented communities
• Balancing responsibilities associated with providing statewide leadership and presence with those of an effective and visible executive of program operations

The successful Executive Director candidate will:

• Be passionate about the mission of NJP and have demonstrated commitment to providing legal services to low-income people
• Possess management experience within a complex multi-office enterprise
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Be a successful leader and manager inside an organization and in the community, preferably with a legal aid program
• Have a law degree
• Value diversity and be culturally competent
• Be comfortable with change and able to manage change
• Hold a fresh and energetic vision of the future
• Possess a strong work ethic
• Be inclusive and a team player
• Be self-aware and both willing and capable of listening and learning
• Be agile and flexible
• Be empathetic with clients
• Have a sense of humor

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In order to receive full consideration, however, candidates are urged to submit their materials before June 9, 2006. Interested candidates should submit a letter expressing in detail why they are interested in the position of Executive Director of NJP as well as what they believe they can contribute to the future of the NJP and its client community. The letter should be accompanied by a current resume and include the names and contact information for three references.
Materials should be submitted electronically to cmetzler@themetzlergroup.com in Microsoft Word format.

The Northwest Justice Project is being assisted in the search by Cynthia A. Metzler of The Metzler Group, 610-434-7550, cmetzler@themetzlergroup.com, and Patricia Pap of Management Information Exchange, 617-556-0288, ppap@m-i-e.org. Candidates with questions about the position or process are encouraged to contact either of these individuals.

About the Northwest Justice Project
NJP’s mission is to secure justice in a democratic society by working for equal access to the legal system for low-income persons.  NJP is celebrating its tenth anniversary. It was founded as the result of a visionary planning process and was initially staffed by three individuals who had previously worked at Evergreen Legal Services. They formed the organization during a period of significant uncertainty and federal funding cuts for legal services using borrowed funds to sustain a skeletal startup staff. The pioneering and strategic enterprise managed to attract other high quality staff who shared the vision of an innovative delivery system, despite pay cuts and uncertain funding. The optimistic and burgeoning program’s mantra was and remains “change is good.”  To learn more about the program, its Guiding Principles and its work, visit NJP’s website at http://www.nwjustice.org/.  Posted 5/9/06

The Pro Bono Initiative (PBI), a joint project of the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) and The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF), is seeking a Project Director.  The goal of PBI is to manage and coordinate pro bono outreach and support initiatives for lawyers, firms, corporations, law students and legal aid and public interest law organizations in the Chicago area.  For information about the Project Director position, including how to apply for the position, please visit http://www.pili-law.org/pdf/PBIJobDescription.pdf. Posted 5/02/06

Staff Attorney:  The Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. (VLP) is looking for an experienced attorney to work full time at VLP.  VLP is a civil legal services pro bono program for low income people and smaller not for profit groups.  The Staff Attorney will be responsible for supervising client screening, intake, and case preparation for referral to pro bono attorneys.  The Staff Attorney will handle some cases and supervise a variety of “in-house” volunteers, including attorneys, law students, and paralegals.  Case types include: bankruptcy, collection defense, divorce, Family Court matters, unemployment insurance benefits and income tax.  Admission to practice in NY and at least 4 years experience required.  Fluency in Spanish is a plus. Excellent benefits.  Salary depends upon experience.  VLP is an equal opportunity employer.  Contact Robert Elardo, Managing Attorney, ECBAVLP, 700 Statler Towers, Buffalo, NY 14202; relardo@wnylc.com  Posted 5/2/06

MAINE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT

Staff Attorney: The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project is seeking a full-time staff attorney at its offices in Portland, Maine. VLP’s mission is to provide quality legal information, assistance and representation in civil legal matters to low-income people by utilizing the volunteer efforts of the private bar and community members.  Founded in 1983, VLP is one of the nation’s premiere statewide pro bono projects, matching low-income clients with volunteer attorneys throughout Maine for full and limited representation, and providing information and advice to thousands of others with the help of trained community volunteers.  Between 4,000 and 7,000 low-income individuals receive some form of legal assistance from the VLP every year.   The VLP is operated by Pine Tree Legal Assistance for the Maine Bar Foundation and all VLP staff are Pine Tree employees. Detailed information about the VLP and its services is provided at http://www.vlp.org.   

The main project site is Portland, where VLP intake operations are located.  Staff in the Portland office include the VLP Director, the VLP volunteer coordinator, two paralegals and a secretary, as well as a pool of community volunteers who handle incoming requests for legal service from around the State, and a pool of volunteer “lawyers of the day” who help refer cases to participating attorneys in southern and central Maine. A second VLP site, located in Bangor, is staffed two days/week by a part-time paralegal who oversees pro bono referrals in eastern and northern Maine.   The VLP also provides assistance to self-represented clients through evening telephone Helplines staffed by volunteer  attorneys and law students which provide coaching and other self-help services to litigants involved in civil proceedings.  The Maine Bar Foundation and its VLP Advisory Committee offer support and advice on VLP operations, particularly as they relate to private bar activities.  

This newly created staff attorney position will focus on expanding pro bono opportunities for attorneys with the goal of increasing attorney participation and maximizing quality representation.  The staff attorney’s duties will include providing coordination, training and support to the over 1,000 members of the private bar who participate as VLP volunteers.  The staff attorney will work closely with and be supervised by the VLP Director on development and operation of specialized pro bono projects that recruit and train attorneys to provide limited pro bono representation to low-income clients in a variety of legal areas, as well as support and enhancement of the more traditional referral of cases for full pro bono representation.  Additionally, the staff attorney will be the primary contact for volunteer attorneys requiring substantive and logistical support with their cases and will be responsible for enhancing resources available to volunteer attorneys via the VLP website, substantive trainings and other materials.  The staff attorney will also serve as a resource on legal issues to VLP paralegals and volunteers staffing VLP’s statewide hotline and will, as needed, provide supervision to non-attorney volunteers and interns.  Because of VLP’s unique role in serving multiple parties to a case, the staff attorney will not provide direct representation to individual clients. 

Interested applicants must be or become a licensed member of the Maine Bar and should have experience practicing in one or more areas in which the VLP provides legal services (family, consumer, administrative, benefits, property and/or contracts.) They should also have an understanding of and commitment to serving VLP’s low-income client population and a familiarity with the private bar and pro bono services.  The ability to organize and handle multiple projects, careful attention to detail, and strong writing and communication skills are essential qualifications. The successful candidate will be a team player able to work collaboratively and creatively in a fast-paced environment with fellow staff members, partner agencies and a large and diverse group of volunteers.  Travel within Maine and some weekend and evening hours are anticipated as part of this position.  

As with all positions at Pine Tree, the VLP staff attorney salary is based on an existing wage scale that begins at $34,000 and is capped at $64,000 for individuals with 30 years of legal service experience. Placement on the scale reflects previous experience at legal service programs and with other legal employers.  Pine Tree provides excellent benefits and generous leave provisions, and participates in a student loan repayment program administered by the Maine Bar Foundation for which the VLP staff attorney would be eligible. 

Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled; initial interviews will be scheduled after May 19th.  The Search Committee hopes to identify the successful applicant in order for him or her to begin working July 1, but an earlier or later ‘start date’ is negotiable.  

Interested applicants should write to: VLP Staff Attorney Search Committee, P.O. Box 547, Portland, ME 04112 and also send a copy of their application materials to Executive Director Nan Heald, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, at the same mailing address. The initial application should include a resume, a list of three references and a writing sample, in addition to a letter addressing the applicant’s particular interest and qualifications for this position.   For more information about this position, please contact VLP Director Mary Richardson at (207) 774-4518 x1270 or mrichardson@vlp.org. Posted 5/2/06

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