Director Of Advocacy

Neighborhood Legal Services • Pittsburgh, PA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Advocacy is a senior leadership position responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, client-centered legal services throughout the organization. Working closely with the Executive Director and management team, the Director of Advocacy provides strategic vision, supervision, and operational leadership for all advocacy functions, including litigation, substantive legal practice, community-based advocacy, training, and program development. The Director of Advocacy promotes excellence in legal representation, advances systemic and impact advocacy initiatives, develops innovative service delivery models, and ensures compliance with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations and other funding requirements. The Director supervises managing attorneys and other legal staff, cultivates partnerships within the legal and client communities, and oversees recruitment, training, and supervision of legal staff.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of 7 years of legal years of relevant legal practice experience.
• Strong commitment to access to justice and serving low-income communities.
• Admission to practice law in Pennsylvania, or eligibility for admission.
• Substantial experience in poverty law, public interest law, civil litigation, or related practice areas.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership experience.
• Strong leadership and management skills, including the ability to set a clear strategic vision, identify ambitious long-term organizational priorities, lead teams through complex and evolving advocacy challenges, and effectively supervise staff with varying roles and experience levels.
• Experience developing litigation strategies and overseeing complex legal matters.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and case management technologies.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Legal Services Corporation regulations and legal aid practice preferred.
• Prior experience in a Legal Services Corporation-funded program.
• Experience with impact litigation, policy advocacy, or systemic reform initiatives.
• Experience supervising interns, fellows, or volunteer attorneys.
• Grant management, compliance, or program evaluation experience.
• Bilingual proficiency relevant to the client community.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and leadership team to establish organizational advocacy priorities, goals, and strategies.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and long-range planning for the legal services program.
• Ensure that advocacy efforts address both individual client needs and systemic barriers affecting low-income communities.
• Foster innovative and effective approaches to legal service delivery.
• Promote the use of litigation, administrative advocacy, community education, policy advocacy, and other advocacy tools to maximize client impact.
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational development initiatives.
• Monitor emerging legal issues and community needs and develop responsive programmatic strategies.
• Ensure the highest quality legal representation throughout the organization.
• Oversee litigation strategy, case review processes, and legal practice standards.
• Provide consultation and support to attorneys on complex legal matters.
• Participate in strategic, impact, or high-profile litigation as appropriate.
• Encourage and support impact litigation and systemic advocacy initiatives.
• Develop and implement quality control systems for legal services and case management.
• Ensure compliance with PA Rules of Professional Conduct and resolve ethical questions arising from intake and case work.
• Supervise managing attorneys, litigation leaders, and other legal supervisors.
• Oversee substantive law training, advocacy skills training, and continuing legal education opportunities for legal staff.
• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for advocacy staff.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development planning.
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture.
• Support the professional growth and leadership development of staff and interns.
• Promote trauma-informed, client-centered, and culturally responsive legal services.
• Lead recruitment, selection, onboarding, and supervision processes for law student interns, undergraduate interns, and externs.
• Develop and maintain internship and externship partnerships with law schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.
• Ensure interns receive appropriate supervision, mentoring, and work assignments.
• Coordinate intern orientation, training curricula, and performance evaluations.
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization within the legal, nonprofit, governmental, and community sectors.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with courts, bar associations, law schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Support community outreach, legal education, and client engagement initiatives.
• Facilitate collaboration with partner organizations to improve access to justice.
• Represent the organization at conferences, meetings, committees, and public events.
• Encourage staff participation in community and professional leadership activities.
• Ensure compliance with Legal Services Corporation requirements, grant obligations, ethical standards, and organizational policies.
• Collaborate with leadership staff regarding program evaluation, reporting, and performance measurement.
• Review program data and outcome measures to assess effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support grant development, funding proposals, and reporting requirements.
• Assist in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Participate in management meetings and organizational leadership activities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• NLS 100% paid healthcare through Highmark that includes prescription and dental coverage
• NLS 100% paid Life/ADD, Long-term Disability, Short-term Disability Insurance
• NLS paid Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• Contributions to a 403b and/or Roth 403b after one-year of service (optional)
• Vision Insurance
• FSA – Medical Account
• FSA - Dependent Care Account
• Qualified Transportation Election
• 20 vacation days
• 14 sick days
• 3 Personal Days
• 15 Holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree