Supervising Attorney of Family Law & Guardianship Units

To be considered for this position you must submit an application through Wufoo. Applications received on Idealist will not considered.

Please visit the following website to apply: https://vlpprobono.wufoo.com/forms/supervising-attorney-of-family-law-guardianship/

This application will remain open until the position has been filled.

POSITION: Supervising Attorney of Family Law & Guardianship Units  

DAYS/HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm  

REPORTS TO: Geraldine Gruvis-Pizarro, Esq. Director of Advocacy and Pro Bono 

LOCATION: 7 Winthrop Square, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02110 * Hybrid 

SALARY: $97,850  

SUMMARY OF POSITION:  

The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) is a non-profit legal services organization that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Greater Boston, primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys.    

The Family Law and Guardianship unit at VLP is one of the busiest units at VLP. The supervising attorney will provide oversight and support in substantive law and general litigation practice. A clearly defined substantive supervisory structure will elevate the skills of the attorneys in the Family Law and Guardianship unit and improve the consistency, accuracy, and depth of the advice and mentoring given to both VLP staff and pro bono attorneys, to better serve our clients and community.   The supervising attorney will also rotate as an on-call attorney at our call center.  

VLP is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ a diverse staff.    

REQUIRED EDUCATION/TRAINING/KNOWLEDGE:    

• Law degree from an accredited law school   
• Admission to and good standing in Massachusetts bar   

REQUIRED MENTAL/PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:   

• 7+ years in full-time family law and/or guardianship law, including litigation.    
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills  
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines 
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and with staff at outside organizations 
• Ability to effectively engage with the private bar to recruit, train, and mentor volunteer attorneys 
• Ability to use a computer several hours per day 
• Ability to communicate in person, by telephone, and by computer  
• Ability to travel to courthouses and other clinic locations in Greater Boston  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:  

• Maintain expertise in family law and guardianship law  
• Lead weekly unit case reviews and provide oversight on follow-through  
• Effectively and efficiently handle a small caseload  
• Supervise weekly family law and guardianship clinics  
• Provide substantive family law and guardianship supervision at clinics and as needed to unit staff attorneys, including answering questions and reviewing advice and drafts of documents and closing cases  
• Develop training for staff on family law and guardianship and general litigation  
• Supervise staff attorneys in the Family Law & Guardianship unit and the DotHouse Unit, including reviewing and approving time for payroll, approving time-off requests, and approving training requests  
• Provide oversight of the DotHouse Unit  
• Supervise and mentor paralegals, interns, and pro bono attorneys  
• Review cases for merit and alignment with priorities  
• Recruit and maintain relationships with volunteers from the private bar  
• Conduct training for volunteers, often during evening hours  
• Prepare cases for pro bono assignment, including reviewing memos and documents  
• Assist in placement of cases with pro bono attorneys  
• Monitor pro bono cases to ensure quality and competent representation  
• Participation in legal aid coalitions and collaborations  
• Assist with grant applications and reports  
• Other responsibilities as needed  

Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our ideal candidates are respectful of an inclusive work environment. VLP strives to ensure that those working in our organization reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. VLP encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions.