Staff Attorney

Maryland Legal Aid; Annapolis (MD); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer contributions

Paid time off

Job summary

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) seeks a full-time general practice staff attorney focused on Family and Administrative Law for the Annapolis, MD area. The role involves handling cases from intake through court representation, collaborating with legal and social work teams, and maintaining MLA standards for case management.

The position requires a J.D., Maryland bar admission or readiness to sit for the next exam, and strong research, writing, and advocacy skills.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and Maryland bar admission or eligibility to sit for the next bar exam.
• Experience in family, housing, and consumer law and knowledge of civil procedure.
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills; ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally in Maryland as needed.

Responsibilities

• Screen clients for eligibility and make referrals as appropriate.
• Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients and perform factual investigations.
• Draft pleadings, memoranda of law, briefs, and related documents.
• Develop case theory and strategy for representation of clients and handle negotiations, hearings, and appeals.
• Collaborate with attorneys, law graduates, paralegals, social workers, and community partners.
• Maintain case files per MLA standards and participate in outreach activities.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Communication skills

Time management

Multi-tasking

Education

Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school

Tools

Office 365

Job description

Description

Job Type

Full-time

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA)

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change.

Since 1911, Maryland Legal Aid has provided high-quality legal aid to vulnerable, low-income people and communities – helping to remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges, achieve stability and independence, and reach their goals. MLA also identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. MLA’s core work includes eviction and foreclosure prevention, family law, children’s rights, consumer protection, securing public benefits, and access to healthcare. MLA advocates operate primarily through the courts, via individual representation of indigent clients, but also engage in impact litigation, public communication and outreach, and policy advocacy.

Through this holistic approach, Maryland Legal Aid serves to amplify the voices of tens of thousands of economically disadvantaged and vulnerable Marylanders each year and seeks to be a leader in the legal services field nationwide.

Job Summary

MLA announces an immediate opening for one full-time general practice staff attorney focusing primarily on Family and Admin Law Cases for our Anne Arundel/Howard County office located in Annapolis, MD. Staff attorneys handle all functions related to casework, from initial intake through representation of clients in all relevant courts and proceedings. Staff attorneys may be expected to work on cases or projects with other attorneys, law graduates, law clerks, legal assistants, paralegals, social workers, and students. Staff attorneys must maintain all case files in accordance with MLA standards and may be required to participate in community outreach and education, which will include collaborations with other attorneys at community outreach sites, with the goal of identifying clients who need representation in court. Tasks assigned to staff attorneys may include any or all, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

Duties And Responsibilities

• Screen clients for eligibility and make referrals as appropriate.
• Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients.
• Conduct factual investigation and analysis as well as legal research.
• Advise clients of the results of the investigation and research and counsel clients regarding their options.
• Draft pleadings to include complaints, answers, and counter-complaints, etc.
• Draft memoranda of law, briefs, etc.
• Develop case theory and strategy for the representation of clients.
• Prepare cases and represent clients during negotiations and in hearings, trials, appeals, and administrative proceedings.
• Continue professional development and education through attendance at Legal Aid sponsored training and other programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland or admitted in another jurisdiction and eligible for admission in the State of Maryland. Out-of-State attorneys must be able and available to take the next scheduled bar exam following the date of employment.
• Knowledge and experience in family, housing and consumer law.
• Knowledge of principles of civil law, judicial procedures, and rules of evidence.
• Ability to use a computer, web-based applications, and computer programs such as Office 365 including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent research, critical thinking, writing, and communication skills.
• Self-starter with ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet regular deadlines in a fast-paced environment while balancing a full workload.
• Ability to provide quality legal advocacy and representation for low-income, diverse client base.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally in Maryland as needed.

Benefits

The current salary range for the staff attorney classification is $79,116 - $122,122 Staff Attorneys will be paid in accordance with MLA’s Workers Union current salary scale, which is subject to revision annually through collective bargaining negotiations. For example:

• one (1) year of experience is $80,305.
• three (3) years of experience is $82,681.
• five (5) years of experience is $85,057.

Salary placements for attorneys are on the earliest date of admission to a U.S. state bar, assuming eligibility to practice (either under the Maryland bar or under Rule 15 if another state bar) and continuous full-time legal work experience following the date of admission. In addition, MLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan that includes employer contributions, three weeks paid time off, sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, a hybrid work arrangement, and more.

Additional Requirements

• Cover letter and writing sample required of all applicants.
• References will be required at the time of the final interview.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Maryland Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, reflective of our core values, for all employees.

Salary Description

$79,116 - 122,122