Managing Attorney

Job Title: Managing Attorney

Location: La Junta

Classification: Exempt

Reports To: Advocacy Director for Southern Colorado

Salary Range: $76,690 - $117,730 plus $4,200 yearly stipend. Salary commensurate with experience.

Organization Overview:

Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program, with thirteen offices providing civil legal assistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas, including family law, public benefits, eviction defense, consumer protection, services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking, and many others.

CLS has strengthened lives, assisted families, and supported communities–one person at a time for over 90 years. We are committed to providing high-quality, free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive, transformational change in the lives of those we serve.  

Position Summary:

 The Managing Attorney will provide supervision, vision, and leadership to the La Junta office, and is responsible for the quality, quantity, and coordination of the office’s litigation and advocacy. The Managing Attorney is expected to handle an active, but reduced, caseload and exercise judgment and creativity in attempting to solve the legal problems of low-income clients. The Managing Attorney is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the office, as well as some grant writing, community outreach, and coordination of private attorney involvement in the delivery of legal services to eligible clients. The position requires the Managing Attorney to excel as a supervisor, administrator, attorney, and as a representative of Colorado Legal Services in the community. This position reports to the Advocacy Director for Southern Colorado.

Essential Duties:

• Provide the oversight and guidance necessary to ensure the effective administration, operation, and management of the office.
• Cultivate a culture that supports staff while holding the office to CLS’s high expectations of performance.
• Maintain an active, but reduced, caseload.
• Provide supervision and guidance for other staff, including periodically reviewing their work and providing training, professional development, employee coaching, and performance evaluation.
• Oversee and manage staff workloads, client relations, and make recommendations to Senior Leadership for performance improvements consistent with the terms of CLS’s Collective Bargaining Agreement as needed.
• Ensure that office intake functions accurately, effectively, and efficiently while adhering to the regulations of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), CLS’s major federal funder.
• Recruit private pro bono attorneys and provide assistance and supervision to the private bar on legal services cases.
• Ensure compliance with CLS and LSC policies.
• Periodically review office case acceptance protocols and solicit input from the community, clients, and the judiciary regarding the on-going legal needs of the community to be responsive to community needs.
• Review and close all office cases in a timely manner to ensure compliance with LSC regulations and the current LSC Case Service Report Handbook.
• Attend management meetings, participate in statewide substantive task forces and working groups, and provide case support and assistance to other CLS casehandlers.
• Provide orientation and training for new staff and participate in the hiring process for new staff.
• Act as the office’s community liaison, maintaining contact with local human service agencies, the local bar association, and other organizations, in developing strategies for assisting low-income clients and vulnerable client groups.
• Participate in agency and community meetings as the program's representative and make presentations to community groups about the services provided by the office and its funding needs.
• Assist with grant management activities, such as communicating with grantors, assisting with gathering data for grant reports, completing grant reports, and working with Senior Management to apply for grant funding.
• Complete administrative tasks such as leave request approvals, timesheet review, and reimbursement requests.
• Oversee operations of the office, including communications with building management, as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Valid license to practice law in the state of Colorado or ability to obtain a Colorado license as soon as practicable
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Detail-oriented with strong critical thinking and analytical skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Applicant should have a demonstrated commitment to providing effective legal services to low-income persons and a sensitivity to the urgent needs of low-income persons

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Prior supervisory or administrative experience with a legal services program or law office

Compensation and Benefits:

We offer a generous plan that includes 100% employer paid premiums for employee health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance as well as partial employer paid premiums for spouses/dependents, based on a sliding scale. We also offer Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement account, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Additionally, CLS offers a $350.00 monthly stipend (to be used as you choose), generous paid time-off and 12.5 paid holidays per year. CLS values its employees’ commitment to working hard for the population it serves and recognizes the importance of work/life balance; therefore, we offer flexible work schedules and hybrid work arrangements as appropriate. We promote and foster a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and psychologically safe work environment, striving to be a “Best Place to Work” in Colorado.

How to Apply:

How to Apply: Please use the "Apply for This Job" link for this job opening on our careers page. We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this position or any other positions at Colorado Legal Services, contact Karen Vilner, Director of People and Culture, at kvilner@colegalserv.org.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging:

CLS embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and retaining a workforce that respects and empowers each individual and represents a variety of diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply for this position.