Deputy Director

Atlanta Legal Aid Society seeks a senior attorney to serve as its Deputy Director, responsible for working directly with the Executive Director to insure high quality legal services to its clients. The position requires significant time in recruitment, hiring and retention of legal staff; development and implementation of program policy; support of unit managers in personnel and other matters; and work with administrative staff on matters of funding, program operation and governance. The job also requires work with other program directors and unit managers in setting priorities, in allocating limited resources, in overseeing program systems, engendering high staff morale, and in maintaining good community relations with its Board of Directors, the local bar, judiciary, social services, and client organizations.

The program has a staff of approximately 120 people, including 65 lawyers who represent low income persons in the 5-county metropolitan Atlanta area. All cases involve civil law problems, such as housing, domestic relations, public benefits, consumer, education and health issues. The program supports specialty units for senior citizens, persons with life threatening illnesses, persons with mental disabilities, low-income home owners, relative care-givers, children and their families with health- related legal cases, and non-English speaking immigrants. The program also supports a nursing home ombudsman program, a statewide senior legal hotline, and a tenant hotline. For a detailed program description, please review the program website at www.atlantalegalaid.org.

Minimum qualifications: 8 years of legal experience; significant experience in personnel management, supervision and staff support; excellent writing and organizational skills; experience in legal work supervision and training; ability to recruit, work with, and support the development of a diverse staff; demonstrated commitment to public service; and Georgia bar license or next exam. Knowledge of poverty law, and significant experience working with low income persons are strongly preferred. Fluency in computer programs and in Spanish is valued. Salary $62,700 + depending upon relevant experience; excellent fringes.

Send a complete application packet including a resume; a letter explaining your interest in the position, mentioning management and supervisory experience, and detailing other qualifications not mentioned in the resume; legal writing samples which demonstrate your ability to research and analyze legal issues; the names, phone numbers, and if available, e-mail addresses of five legal references who have direct and extensive knowledge of your legal and/or management work; and an official law school transcript. (If you do not have an official law school transcript, you may order it from your school and have it sent directly.) Direct all application materials, marked “Deputy Director Job”, to Phyllis McKay, Executive Assistant, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 151 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2097; FAX (404) 525-5710; e-mail: pamckay@atlantalegalaid.org.

ALAS considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation.