Contract Attorney

Volare; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 9,000 - 11,000; Full time

Job summary

Volare, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, seeks a licensed attorney (DC/MD/VA) to provide legal information and referrals for survivors of domestic abuse.

The contractor role covers international and US-based work, supervising by the Appellate Litigation Director, with an estimated 120 hours of services per fiscal year.

Qualifications

• At least five years of experience in family law and domestic abuse in the U.S. and internationally.
• Ability to provide an estimated 120 hours of contracted services per fiscal year (average of 10 hours monthly).
• License valid in the DC, Maryland or the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal information and assistance to program-qualified survivors of domestic abuse, including consultation on legal options and connecting with appropriate attorneys.
• Provide general referrals in family law, criminal defense, and immigration.
• Develop resources and referrals with the Appellate Litigation Director.
• Vet newly identified attorneys for addition to the referral list.
• Attend meetings with partner staff and stakeholders and participate in case management as needed.
• Prepare and submit requests for financial resources and maintain case records for grant reporting.
• Complete monthly invoicing.

Skills

Family law

Domestic abuse experience

US immigration law knowledge

Multicultural experience

English proficiency

Education

Law license in DC/MD/VA

Job description

CONTRACT ATTORNEY, VOLARE

Started in 2012, Volare (formerly Network for Victim Recovery of DC or “NVRDC”) creates equitable healing and dignified experiences for survivors of crime by providing free, trauma-informed advocacy, therapeutic, and legal services in conjunction with strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and education to transform existing responses to harm. We are a growing DC nonprofit organization with a team of passionate and dedicated staff.

POSITION

Volare is engaged in a multi-year agreement with an international partner to provide legal information to employees and employee spouses or domestic partners in the Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and international Country Offices who are survivors of domestic abuse. Those services include the provision of legal information, domestic abuse expertise, and technical assistance to lawyers representing survivors, and assistance to locate and evaluate local legal counsel who can offer their services to survivors on a pro-bono, low fee, or full fee basis. To the extent that services are sought for employee or employee spouses who are not survivors of abuse, the Contractor role will be limited to providing general referrals, such as for criminal defense or family law attorneys.

Volare seeks a qualified attorney, licensed in MD, D.C., or VA, to provide these services as contracted. Work will be supervised by Volare’s Appellate Litigation Director. Volare will retain the Contractor to serve from the hire date through July 31, 2027, with the possibility of extension pending continuation of the grant contract. Volare will provide appropriate and adequate program orientation and supervision to the Contractor during the entirety of their participation in this agreement. Contracted services are estimated at an average of 10 hours per month, but may vary with workload, at $81.25 per hour.

POSITION PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

For the avoidance of doubt, consultants will not participate in litigation or pre-litigation activities without Volare’s express written approval.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Provide legal information and assistance to program-qualified survivors of domestic abuse (“survivors”), including:
  • Consultation regarding their legal situation, needs, resources, and options relating specifically to domestic abuse protection order and/or family law and issues
  • Assistance with identifying and retaining attorneys with expertise in domestic abuse in the relevant jurisdiction. Assistance will include communicating with said attorneys to assist in placing the case and follow‑up with the survivor upon request
• Provide general referrals in the areas of family law, criminal defense, and immigration
• Work with Appellate Litigation Director to build out resources and referrals available to survivors in Country Offices
• Vet newly identified, qualified attorneys for addition to the national and international referral list
• Attend meetings with partner staff and stakeholders
• Attend case management meetings as needed
• Prepare and submit requests for financial resources as needed
• Maintain accurate case records and responsibility for project specific grant reporting as necessary;
• Complete Monthly Invoicing

Quarterly:

• Complete quarterly reports compiling data on survivors served and services provided for period
• Provide updated Referral lists
• Participate in Performance Review
• Attend stakeholder meetings as needed

Annually:

• Attend and present at trainings on domestic abuse
• Complete final report at the conclusion of the fiscal year providing data summary of services provided and noting service trends and any emerging issues or challenges
• Participate in review of Previous Year’s Performance and Current Year Plan of Activities

Required Qualifications

Candidates must possess the following qualifications in order to be considered for the position:

• At least five years of experience working in family law and domestic abuse in the U.S. and internationally.
• Ability to provide an estimated 120 hours of contracted services per fiscal year to the project (average of 10 hours monthly).
• License valid in the DC, Maryland or the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Specific skills and background must include:

• General knowledge of the U.S. legal system and in at least two of the following regions:
  • Countries located in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa (at least two French-speaking and two English-speaking countries);
  • European countries (preferably with contacts in Western, Eastern, Central and Southern Europe); or
  • Countries located in other regions where the partner operates (e.g. East Asia, South Asia, Latin America, Middle East/North Africa).
• Demonstrated experience representing survivors of domestic abuse in divorce, custody and protection order cases.
• Demonstrated knowledge of US immigration law as it pertains to domestic abuse and/or an actively maintained list for referrals to applicable immigration law experts.
• Familiarity with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and relevant international treaties such as the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction preferred. Demonstrated experience working with multicultural organizations preferred and not a requirement.
• Experience working with multicultural individuals and organizations.
• English proficiency.

RATE

Volare will retain the Contractor at an hourly rate of $81.25. This contract-based opportunity is exempt from additional employment benefits.

This position is a Protection and Security Sensitive position in accordance with DC Regulation Rule 6-B406. All contractor offers are contingent upon the clear result of a background check. Disqualifying events pertain to ensuring compliance with serving minors, sexual assault survivors, and victims of crime. Background checks are conducted on all final candidates and up to an annual recurrence as determined by program compliance and the Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer.

Volare is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and to the fair and equal treatment of all individuals with disabilities as prescribed by this law, whether they are clients, employees, or volunteers.