Associate Legal Director

ABOUT MOTHER’S OUTREACH NETWORK

Mother’s Outreach Network, Inc. (MON), based in Washington, DC, is a non-profit, tax-exempt, racial justice and antipoverty advocacy organization that pursues the inclusion and empowerment of Black mothers in the struggle for family preservation by transforming government income and child welfare laws, policies, and practices from punitive to empowering. MON uses movement-lawyering strategies to build parents’ power to transform systems and to aid in harm reduction against impacted constituents. MON does so through three primary programs:

• The legal program provides representation, advice, and referrals for mothers facing adverse administrative decisions, with a focus on matters before the DC Child and Family Services Agency that negatively impact family preservation and economic security.
• The advocacy program seeks to transform income and child welfare/family regulation system policy at the local and federal levels.
• The community engagement program includes outreach events, know-your-rights workshops in law and civic activism, as well as community-driven research and mutual aid.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Mother’s Outreach Network is seeking an Associate Legal Director. This is a critical and senior role in the organization. The position will be responsible for shepherding, developing, and helping to grow our legal practice into a full-fledged national model. While cultivating a broader program, the Associate Legal Director will simultaneously perform legal advocacy work in cross-cutting practice areas that preserve families at risk of permanent separation in the District of Columbia.

The position will build infrastructure while managing a caseload. Their work will vigorously pursue defensive and affirmative representation to prevent the removal of children from their families. This includes representation during the early phases of involvement with Child Protective Services. The efforts will also include assistance with third-party custody matters and representation for appeals for removal from the Child Protection Register.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a rapidly growing organization. The culture of the organization requires a contributor who can thrive in a fast-paced environment alongside the Executive Director and other staff. The position reports to the Executive Director of Mother’s Outreach Network.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Associate Legal Director may be required to:

• Represent and provide varied legal services to mothers undergoing investigation by the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) or who have open in-home family cases and are being monitored by CFSA as they seek to mitigate the conditions leading to agency involvement and retain custody of their children.
• Represent parents who have been placed on the DC Child and Family Services Agency’s Child Protection Register. This includes conducting outreach to engage clients, client intakes, client interviews, case-related investigations, referrals, performing discovery, participating in mediations and hearings, communicating with clients, and coordinating follow-ups with constituents.
• Represent and provide brief legal services to parents who seek assistance in our advice clinics and community education programs.
• Coordinate and engage in community education, outreach, and communications related to legal programs, legal clinics, and clinic operations.
• Manage the legal program’s full-time staff attorney.
• Recruit and supervise pro bono attorneys and other legal volunteers.
• Assist with grant applications and grant reports.
• Perform other duties related to the position as assigned by the Executive Director and as supported by funding.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Juris Doctor degree, with active or obtainable DC Bar membership.
• Experience: Administrative advocacy or litigation experience, or deep experience providing direct legal services, preferably within a small law practice or nonprofit setting.
• Skills:
  • Ability to work independently while contributing to a team.
  • Background in third-party custody representation, special education, civil rights, or criminal law is highly desirable.
  • Poverty-centered focus with attention to racial equity analysis and how these issues impact no- and low-income Black mothers.
  • Experience representing Black families in the child welfare system is a plus.
  • Trauma-informed, culturally competent, sensitive, and compassionate advocacy skills.
  • Excellent legal research and writing skills.
  • Strong work ethic and ability to juggle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends for meetings as needed.
  • Ability to work and meet with others in a hybrid environment.
  • Flexible, positive, and passionate about Mother’s Outreach Network’s mission and values.

COMPENSATION

• Salary: High $90k to low $100k per year, commensurate with experience.
• Benefits:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance (100% covered for the employee, available for dependents).
  • All federal holidays and all holidays observed by the District of Columbia, as well as the week between Christmas and New Year.
  • Up to $12,000 per year in loan repayment assistance for qualified attorneys.

TO APPLY

If you are interested, please email the following materials to Melody Webb at [email protected]:

• Resume
• List of three professional references
• Writing sample
• Cover letter describing why you are interested in this position and how your work history and goals relate to the role

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position is open until filled.

Mother’s Outreach Network is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and insist on equity and inclusion in our work environment and in the world. If you have the passion for our mission and the skill set to help us fulfill it, we welcome you as you are.

For more information about the organization, visit www.mothersoutreachnetwork.org.