The James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy’s Director of Legal Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for the organization’s legal programs and initiatives. The Director is responsible for ensuring that the Moran Center delivers high-quality, client-centered, and culturally responsive legal services to youth, emerging adults, and families. The Director oversees the Moran Center’s established legal programs, supports the development of new legal initiatives and pilot projects, supervises legal practice-area managers, and works closely with the Executive Director and Leadership Team to advance the organization’s mission and strategic priorities. The Director also supports policy advocacy and systemic reform efforts, and helps strengthen partnerships with community organizations, pro bono attorneys, law schools, and other stakeholders.

The Director of Legal Services reports directly to the Executive Director.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal-Program Leadership, Supervision, and Team Development (55%)

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all Moran Center legal programs, including the Youth & Emerging Adult Criminal Defense Practice, Criminal Record Relief Practice, Education Advocacy Program, and School-Based Civil Legal Clinic;
• Supervise, coach, and support legal practice-area managers, including establishing clear expectations, providing regular feedback, promoting professional growth, and assisting with complex case-management, staffing, and practice-related issues;
• Establish and maintain systems that promote high-quality, timely, ethical, and client-centered legal representation across programs;
• Develop, implement, and periodically review legal-program policies, protocols, workflows, and practice standards;
• Identify opportunities to improve coordination across practice areas and strengthen the integration of legal, mental health, and restorative justice services;
• Help foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-aligned culture within the legal department;
• Develop and support professional-development opportunities for attorneys, paralegals, law clerks, fellows, interns, and other members of the legal team;
• Coordinate the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and supervision of law clerks, legal interns, and fellows in collaboration with legal practice-area managers and other appropriate staff;
• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of new legal initiatives and pilot projects;
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and other members of the Leadership Team to identify opportunities for program growth, legal collaboration, and organizational improvement; and
• Co-lead programmatic and interdisciplinary meetings with the appropriate members of the Leadership Team.

Quality Assurance and Direct Legal Practice (15%)

• Monitor the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of legal representation across practice areas;
• Review case trends, emerging legal issues, and practice-area needs in collaboration with legal practice-area managers;
• Maintain sufficient familiarity with each legal practice area to identify opportunities for improved advocacy, coordination, and professional development, as supported by the organizational budget;
• Periodically second-chair or otherwise support selected complex matters across practice areas, as appropriate, which may include a special education due-process hearing, an expungement or sealing hearing, an eviction trial, or another significant proceeding;
• Ensure that legal staff comply with applicable ethical obligations, professional standards, court rules, and organizational policies; and
• Support the development and refinement of legal-screening tools, intake protocols, and referral practices.

Data, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement (10%)

• Oversee the collection, review, and use of outcome data for the Moran Center’s legal programs and initiatives in collaboration with the Program Data Support Analyst;
• Work with legal practice-area managers and the Program Data Support Analyst to refine and identify meaningful performance indicators and ensure the timely and accurate documentation of services and outcomes;
• Use quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, evaluate program effectiveness, strengthen service delivery, and inform strategic planning in collaboration with practice area managers; and
• Support the Executive Director in identifying and implementing opportunities for continuous improvement across legal programs.

 Pro Bono Strategy and Partnerships (10%)

• Develop an