Chief Legal Director

About Maryland Legal Aid

Overview

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.

To learn more about the organization and its impact, please visit the Maryland Legal Aid website.

Mission

We advocate with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change.

Vision

Our vision is to ensure that dignity, equity and justice is a lived reality for all. Building on mutual respect for our clients, communities and staff and rooted in our core values, we seek to provide the high quality, impactful advocacy our communities need while building toward our vision for a more equitable, just society. 

Core Values

We are holistic problem-solvers. We care about the whole person and seek to provide comprehensive and client-centered services to address both the causes and consequences of poverty in our communities.We are visionary. We are bold and audacious advocates, seeing possibilities for individual and systemic transformation at every juncture. We are anti-racist. We stand against racism, actively fostering equity and transformative change in all we do.We are inclusive. We treat every person with dignity and respect, embrace the differences among us, and strive to create brave spaces where differences are celebrated.We are compassionate. We approach our work with one another and the people we serve with empathy, thoughtfulness, and consideration.We are committed to excellence. We learn from challenges, successes, and failures, using each encounter as an opportunity to refine our skills and deepen our expertise.We are collaborative. We recognize that the best results emerge from working closely and collaborating with our client community partners. We actively seek opportunities to work together across our organization, and with our legal services, community, and agency partners.

In the Pursuit of Justice

Serving the people of Maryland for over 100 years, Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that is the biggest provider of free, civil legal services to people experiencing poverty. MLA handles cases addressing the most fundamental needs of its clients, including family, housing, income support, healthcare, employment, and consumer law. MLA also represents children in CINA (Child in Need of Assistance) proceedings and other vulnerable populations, including homeowners facing foreclosure, migrant and seasonal farm workers, , people in guardianship proceedings, residents in nursing home and assisted living settings, and re-entering citizens.. MLA seeks to meet its clients where they live through community based clinics, outreach and education, and in conversation with community members.

MLA provides legal assistance for clients for a variety of civil issues, such as: fighting unlawful evictions and substandard housing; acquiring critical health care; obtaining disability and other income assistance; maintaining custody of children and vital child support; obtaining protection against domestic violence; preventing foreclosures or mitigating their effects; recovering unpaid wages; obtaining unemployment benefits; remedying fraudulent and predatory contracts and practices; restoring utilities; dealing with debts and debt collectors; expunging criminal records to remove barriers to housing, employment, child custody, and a driver’s license; and more.

In 2023…

• 29,811 clients received legal services impacting 45,575 individuals in their household
• 10,222 individuals received legal help with housing law matters
• 5,018 individuals received legal assistance in family law matters

Additionally, through a contract with the Maryland Judiciary, the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance (MCLA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MLA with nearly 60 employees, operates 9 Court Help Centers around the state and a statewide call center located in Annapolis. 176,461 visitors were assisted by the Maryland Courts Help and District Court Help Centers in 2023.

With a staff of more than 300 across 12 offices, MLA currently has a $48 million budget, 95%+ of which comes from the Legal Services Corporation, Maryland Legal Services Corporation, and other city, state, and government grants and contracts.

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.

Since 1911, Maryland Legal Aid has worked hand in hand with communities to remedy their most fundamental civil legal issues and empower them to overcome challenges and achieve stability. From deep connections to clients and communities, MLA identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. The Chief Legal Director will play a vital role in continuing and expanding upon that legacy.

MLA’s Chief Legal Director has two distinct, although closely related, areas of responsibility. The first is oversight of the direction of the legal and advocacy work to maintain consistently high quality, high impact services. The Chief Legal Director supervises and coordinates a senior legal team consisting of two Deputy Legal Directors and 8 to 10 cadre advocacy directors with statewide responsibilities to spearhead implementation of the organization’s priorities and strategic vision. Under the direction of the Chief Legal Director, the senior legal team will ensure that the program addresses the most significant barriers facing the low-income communities it serves. This includes utilizing data and information from a variety of sources and employing strategies to rectify them, through a combination of litigation, policy, media, partnership with NGOs and government, and other forms of advocacy. The Chief Legal Director approves and may guide complex litigation and appeals, helps resolve ethical, highly technical or novel legal issues, addresses otherwise unresolved client grievances, and ensures that legal staff has access to training, supervision, guidance, and mentoring. The two Deputy Legal Directors will assist the Chief Legal Director in these efforts to ensure that MLA continues to deliver high quality, high impact legal work. 

The second area of the Chief Legal Director’s responsibility is to work closely with the Executive Director on programmatic and organizational development. This includes assistance in securing funding, engaging with external partners, stakeholders, the judiciary, and governmental entities. With the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Legal Director will help to ensure that internal management systems and the organizational structure provide a supportive environment for staff, meet administrative, operational and service delivery needs, and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the program.  

Although the position will be based in MLA’s Baltimore City office, the Chief Legal Director will direct the legal and policy work of the program’s 12 offices, with over 170 attorneys and more than 300 staff located throughout the State.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, lead, and ensure high quality and high impact statewide legal advocacy, service delivery, and management.
• 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.
• Direct the programmatic work of all MLA offices, through ongoing consultation with deputies, chief attorneys, and supervising attorneys. Directly supervise a team of 8-10 that includes two Deputies, and the Statewide Advocacy Directors.    
• Approve, monitor and, where appropriate, participate in the development of appeals, amicus briefs, and complex litigation, including affirmative impact cases.
• 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.
• Expand and elevate MLA’s advocacy work and incorporate best practices to make MLA a model among legal services providers.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
• Assist with securing and reporting on grants and provide substantive direction to the staff responsible for grant-funded activities, reporting, and compliance.
• Serve as a resource for general legal questions for the organization.
• Foster a culture that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive and builds a sense of belonging (DEIB) for all staff, including adoption of diversity hiring practices, and promotion of cultural humility and responsiveness among staff.
• Inspire and enhance an organizational culture that values collaboration, transparency, respect, trust, and accountability.
• Represent the work and vision of MLA to partners, stakeholders, the public, and the national legal services community.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Visionary & Strategic Leadership

• A forward-thinking leader with a clear and actionable vision for delivering legal services while driving excellence in leadership and mentoring of legal staff.
• Proven expertise in crafting and executing impactful legal strategies, setting ambitious yet achievable objectives, and rigorously evaluating progress to deliver outstanding results.
• Demonstrates the ability to operationalize and execute strategic initiatives, transforming visionary concepts into practical frameworks and systems.
• Adept at building and refining structures that support organizational growth and culture, and effectively collaborating with existing teams to establish and reinforce best practices.
• Acts as a crucial bridge between executive leadership and legal practitioners, fostering cohesive communication and ensuring alignment with the organization’s broader goals.
• Committed to enhancing the organization’s legal capabilities while maintaining a dynamic and adaptive approach to evolving challenges and opportunities.

Strong Organizational & Administrative Leadership

• Exceptional at managing, inspiring, and driving a high-performing legal team, cultivating a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Demonstrates advanced institutional project management skills that extend well beyond traditional legal casework and policy initiatives.
• Develops and enforces robust supervisory and performance standards, enhancing team productivity and organizational efficiency.
• Balances the demands of client service with compliance requirements, bringing a deep and nuanced understanding of the operational realities of a grant-funded organization.
• Shows willingness to partner with the CFO and develop financial literacy skills, proactively gaining insights into financial management to support organizational success.
• Utilizes current technology and remote communication tools to effectively supervise and collaborate with staff across multiple locations.

Sophisticated Civil Litigation Experience

• Brings a robust background in federal and state litigation, with a preference for experience in appeals and affirmative litigation, ideally in areas pertinent to MLA’s mission (i.e., housing, child and family services, employment, economic security, and more).
• Someone who is both a strong advocate/formidable opponent in the courtroom, as well as a compassionate manager. Combines strong litigation skills with an empathetic and effective leadership style that empowers and uplifts team members.
• Demonstrates exceptional ability to work seamlessly with professionals across multiple offices and external organizations and agencies, driving cohesive legal strategies and outcomes.
• Proven track record of championing significant policy reforms at federal, state, and/or local levels, leveraging legal acumen to drive transformative systemic change.
• Committed to elevating excellence in legal practice, fostering a culture of high standards and continuous improvement within MLA’s legal team.

Strong Communicator & Collaborative Relationship Builder

• Demonstrates advanced skills in managing internal and external relationships, effectively representing the organization and fostering strong partnerships.
• A strong track record of supervisory experience, adept at motivating, advising, coaching, and providing constructive feedback to staff at all levels.
• An exceptional written and oral communicator who clearly and persuasively conveys messages to diverse audiences.
• Inspires and uplifts team members, continuously affirming their value and celebrating their contributions, creating a supportive and energizing team culture.
• Collaborates closely and enthusiastically with the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, engaging in a dynamic and respectful collaboration that challenges and supports one another, working together to achieve shared organizational goals with grace and thoughtfulness.

Passion for the Mission 

• Embodies a profound commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Maryland Legal Aid, driving the organization’s goals with unwavering dedication.
• Shows a strong commitment to personal and professional growth, with a continuous drive for self-improvement and reflective practice.
• A champion of culturally competent leadership, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace environment that embodies the values of justice statewide.
• Thrives in a large, multifaceted organization, leveraging experience and adaptability to navigate and lead in a diverse environment.  
• An individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values — someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Additionally, this role requires: 

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Current Bar membership in good standing to practice law in any state, Maryland preferred. If licensed to practice in another state, a commitment to obtain licensure in Maryland after hire.
• Occasional travel across the state to MLA’s offices and partners statewide.

Compensation & Benefits

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. Molly Brennan, Corina Benitz, & Gina Wrolstad are leading the search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials by filling out our talent profile or email the team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

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