Chief Legal Director - Mielegalaid

Maryland Legal Aid advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change. Maryland Legal Aid is the largest provider of free civil legal services in the state serving people in all of Maryland’s 23 jurisdictions and Baltimore City. From its 12 offices and through its community-based clinics, Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) helps clients preserve and access safe and affordable housing; maintain custody of their children and be safe from domestic violence; and increase their economic security by defending against consumer debt including foreclosures and tax sales, removing barriers to employment and accessing critical income supports such as unemployment, food stamps and other vital public benefits. MLA’s advocates also represent vulnerable Marylanders including seniors, children in child welfare cases, and migrant farmworkers. MLA assists its clients in resolving their most fundamental legal problems to bring greater stability and possibilities to their lives.

The Opportunity

Maryland Legal Aid seeks a visionary and experienced Chief Legal Director who will partner closely with the Executive Director and lead senior staff to shape and guide the program’s delivery of high-quality, impactful legal services to low-income Marylanders, as well as MLA’s related policy and advocacy efforts. The Chief Legal Director will serve as the Executive Director’s primary deputy for program development, including implementation of the organization’s strategic vision and fostering relationships with the legal and advocacy community, funders, the judiciary, and government agencies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop, lead, and ensure high quality and high impact statewide legal advocacy, service delivery, and management.
2. As part of the Executive Team, lead the implementation of MLA’s innovative strategic plan, including building a culture of holistic lawyering and broader impact.
3. Direct the programmatic work of all MLA offices, through ongoing consultation with deputies, chief attorneys, and supervising attorneys.
4. Approve, monitor and, where appropriate, participate in the development of appeals, amicus briefs, and complex litigation, including affirmative impact cases.
5. Supervise and provide litigation support to legal staff and ensure that lawyers at every level in the program have access to the resources they need, adequate supervision, and opportunities to grow professionally.
6. Expand and elevate MLA’s advocacy work and incorporate best practices to make MLA a model among legal services providers.
7. Cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
8. Assist with securing and reporting on grants and provide substantive direction to the staff responsible for grant-funded activities, reporting, and compliance.
9. Serve as a resource for general legal questions for the organization.
10. Foster a culture that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive and builds a sense of belonging (DEIB) for all staff.
11. Inspire and enhance an organizational culture that values collaboration, transparency, respect, trust, and accountability.
12. Represent the work and vision of MLA to partners, stakeholders, the public, and the national legal services community.
13. In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, assist with streamlining operations including integrating new technologies to ensure compatibility with service delivery and greater consistency and efficiency.
14. In conjunction with the Chief HR Officer and members of the leadership team, build a community with robust retention and recruitment strategies for all MLA’s current and prospective staff.
15. Champion the strategic use of data and technology to ensure effective and accurate decision-making and advocacy strategies across the organization.

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. Ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

1. Visionary & Strategic Leadership
2. Strong Organizational & Administrative Leadership
3. Sophisticated Civil Litigation Experience
4. Strong Communicator & Collaborative Relationship Builder
5. Passion for the Mission

Additionally, this role requires:

1. Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
2. Current Bar membership in good standing to practice law in any state, Maryland preferred.
3. Occasional travel across the state to MLA’s offices and partners statewide.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $175,000- $200,000 with a generous benefits package.

Contact & How to Apply

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. To express interest in this role please submit your materials by visiting the provided link or email the team directly. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Maryland Legal Aid is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

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