Staff Attorney

Maryland Center for Legal Assistance (MCLA) seeks to close the gap in legal services in Maryland by providing brief legal advice from lawyers to unrepresented litigants with civil legal issues. MCLA, through a contract with the Maryland Judiciary, operates Court Help Centers throughout Maryland to provide legal advice to civil litigants in person and over the phone, chat, email, and videoconference. 

The Help Centers deal with a wide range of civil legal matters, including landlord-tenant, consumer matters such as debt collection and credit card cases, child support, and criminal record expungements to remove barriers to obtaining housing, employment, and child custody.

Job Summary:

MCLA announces an immediate opening for a full-time Staff Attorney position in the District Court Help Center in Rockville, MD.  Successful candidates will demonstrate an ability to handle a broad range of duties in a timely manner. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide brief legal advice and information to self-represented litigants in connection with civil legal issues, including Divorce, Custody, Visitation, Guardianship, Domestic Violence/Peace Orders, and other Family Law related subjects.
• Assist self-represented litigants in drafting their pleadings and motions, preparing for trial, completing court forms, and understanding court documents and the law. 
• Provide referrals to appropriate legal service organizations, agencies, and lawyer referral services wherever appropriate. 
• Local travel as needed between our various offices.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the position's essential functions. 

Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland. 
• One year or more of civil litigation experience and clinical or clerkship experience will be considered.
• Ability to conduct rapid legal research using Westlaw. 
• Strong customer service skills, including the ability to empathize and assist people who are distressed. 
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts in simple terms.
• Ability to travel to different offices on short notice.
• Fluency in Spanish & American Sign Language is strongly preferred.

Work Environment

Work duties are typically performed in a general office setting with regular telephone interaction, videoconferencing, instant messaging and email, and in-person. Certain work duties may be performed in a community setting or remotely.
 

Benefits

The current salary range for the staff attorney position is $76,812.00 - $118,565.00. Staff attorneys will be paid by MLA’s Workers Union’s current salary scale, which is subject to revision annually through collective bargaining negotiations. For example:

• The salary for an attorney with one (1) year of experience is $77,966.
• The salary for an attorney with three (3) years of experience is $80,273.
• The salary for an attorney with five (5) years of experience is $82,580.

Salary placements for attorneys are on the earliest date of admission to a U.S. state bar, assuming eligibility to practice (either under the Maryland bar or under Rule 15 if another state bar) and continuous full-time legal work experience following the date of admission.  In addition, MLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan, two weeks paid time off, sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, and more.

Additional Requirements

• References will be required at the time of the final interview. 
• No telephone calls, please. The position will remain open until filled.

Maryland Center for Legal Assistance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, reflective of our core values, for all employees.