Staff Attorney and Pro Bono Coordinator

FreeState Justice

Complete and submit an application here.

FreeState Justice seeks a staff attorney to work towards lived equality for LGBTQ+ Marylanders in need through management of our pro bono panel and legal advocacy. The staff attorney reports directly to FreeState’s Managing Attorney. The staff attorney should be highly organized and thrive on relationship building with clients, partners and colleagues. This is a full-time staff attorney position, with approximately 75% of the attorney’s time dedicated to the development of our pro bono panel and management of the case paneling process with the balance focused on direct legal advocacy on behalf of clients. A deep commitment to working in partnership with transgender and gender-non conforming people and communities of color is essential to success in the role.

Position Summary: The staff attorney will primarily develop FreeState’s pro bono panel and will also maintain a small caseload relating to matters arising out of a client’s gender identity or sexual orientation, including civil rights, healthcare, family law, elder law, conditions of confinement, and other matters.

About FreeState: FreeState Justice is a 501(c)(3) social justice organization that envisions a Maryland where people across the spectrum of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities are free to live authentically, with safety and dignity, in all communities throughout our state. Our work brings to the forefront the experiences of those in our community at greater risk for discrimination, such as youth, communities of color, individuals with low and limited incomes, and transgender and gender non-conforming people.

FreeState Justice provides free legal representation and policy advocacy in areas arising from a person’s LGBTQ+ status, such as health care discrimination, safe and equal access to school services, family law matters, name and gender changes, and discrimination in places of public accommodation. Services, both legal and policy-focused, are provided by staff attorneys, as well as by volunteer attorneys who serve on FreeState’s pro bono panel, and student interns.

More information about the organization can be found at www.freestate-justice.org.

Reports To: Managing Attorney

Responsibilities:

Pro Bono Management/Legal Advocacy                                                                     

• Manage pro bono program process from intake to referral to disposition
• Recruit, train, engage, retain, and mentor 300+ volunteer attorneys and paralegals
• Identify and solidify firm co-counseling relationships as needed
• Coordinate in-house pro bono training program by processing requests for training and facilitating all pro bono recruitment trainings.
• Staff legal clinics and other community outreach events, including on evenings and weekends, as needed.

Legal Advocacy

• Manage caseload of in-house cases representing clients in legal matters connected to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity including, but not limited to, select name change and decree of gender identity cases, family law cases, and anti-discrimination matters.
• Work with the litigation team in responding to requests for assistance and case development.
• Maintain or develop subject matter expertise on issues relating to civil rights for LGBTQ+ Marylanders.

Meet Professional Expectations of Organization                                                       

• Assist with grant reporting, public education, and the development of other written materials.
• Participate in strategic planning, goal-setting, evaluation, and professional development activities.
• Meet compliance requirements required of all staff to include grant reporting, time-keeping, financial management, etc.

Qualifications: An ideal candidate will possess the following qualities:

• Demonstrated commitment to working within and representing the interests of marginalized communities, including experience working with transgender people, people of color, and other marginalized people.
• Juris Doctorate and admission to the Maryland Bar (or a willingness to sit for the next available Maryland bar exam, with continuation of employment contingent on admission to the Maryland Bar within one year after date of hire) with at least six months of relevant legal or advocacy experience. Law school clinical work, a judicial clerkship, working within marginalized communities, or relevant journal, trial team, or moot court experience may be considered as part of the requisite amount of experience.
• Familiarity with legal issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community nationally and in
• Demonstrated ability in public speaking, written and oral communications, and interpersonal
• Well-developed time management skills and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Salary: FreeState Justice offers a competitive salary. The salary range for this position is $45,000 to $55,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: FreeState Justice offers a competitive benefits package. Benefits include: full medical, dental, and vision benefits; 403(b) retirement savings account; 11 paid holidays, 20 days of paid annual leave, and 10 days of paid sick leave.

FreeState Justice’s employees may also quality for the federal Public Services Loan Forgiveness Program and Maryland’s Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should complete a candidate intake form at the following by clicking here. The priority deadline for this role is January 15, 2020.

If necessary, questions may be directed via email to barrweissconsulting@gmail.com; no calls please. More information about the organization can be found at www.freestate-justice.org.

The selection process for this role will include a phone interview followed by an in-person interview.

Equal Opportunity Employer: FreeState Justice is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, HIV status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Transgender people, people of color, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.