Director of Pro Bono

San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program•San Diego, CA

2d•$110,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Pro Bono is responsible for managing all aspects of pro bono volunteer involvement across SDVLP’s programs, to fulfill SDVLP’s mission of providing equal access to the justice system to low-income and disadvantaged San Diegans. The Director of Pro Bono will work as an integral part of SDVLP’s executive leadership team to lead design and management of SDVLP’s programs to maximize pro bono attorney involvement. The Director of Pro Bono will work with program staff to recruit legal volunteers, direct placement of pro bono cases, oversee development of pro bono recruitment and training materials, and strengthen the organization’s ability to serve clients. The Director of Pro Bono will cultivate and sustain deep relationships with law firm partners, corporate counsel, bar associations, and other professional organizations, ensuring that pro bono placements are both strategic and impactful. As part of the executive leadership team, this position will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will directly supervise the Pro Bono Administrative Coordinator.

Requirements

Member in good standing of the California Bar.
Minimum of five years as a practicing attorney.
Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, including managing or coordinating pro bono programs in law firms, corporate legal departments, academic settings, or nonprofit organizations.
Proven success cultivating and sustaining relationships with law firm leadership and professional partners.
Proven success in volunteer management and recruitment.
Leadership experience in supervising and mentoring attorneys and support staff.
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to successfully work as part of a team, and with the public, volunteers, court personnel, government agencies, and partner organizations.
Excellent written communication skills.
Excellent public speaking skills and the ability to project a favorable image of SDVLP in public relations activities, resulting in widespread support and a positive reputation in the community.
Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments with accuracy and minimal direction.
Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.
Excellent Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills.

Responsibilities

Leading development, management, and administration of all aspects of pro bono volunteer involvement at SDVLP, including the recruitment, training, mentoring and recognition of attorney, law student, and paralegal volunteers.
Assessing SDVLP’s current pro bono structure, practices, and systems, working closely with program staff to identify opportunities for growth.
Developing and implementing strategies, including those rooted in technology, to strengthen coordination, efficiency, and impact across the organization’s pro bono program.
In conjunction with the executive leadership team, developing strategic vision for pro bono involvement at SDVLP, setting priorities, and implementing goals accordingly.
Cultivating, fostering, and sustaining relationships with law firms, corporations, bar associations, and the judiciary, including through regular attendance at networking events.
Serving as SDVLP’s pro bono ambassador to the Board of Directors, partners, donors, and the larger legal community.
Informing and advising the Chief Executive Officer on relevant issues pertaining to pro bono legal services programs at the local, state, and national levels.
Working with program staff to develop and update training and support materials for volunteer attorneys.
Actively coordinating with SDVLP’s Development team and program staff to support fundraising, donor engagement, grant writing, and communications activities.
Developing and managing pro bono awards, recognition events, and other public-facing initiatives to celebrate volunteer contributions.
Maintaining and improving pro bono policies and procedures for volunteer training, case placement, mentoring, on-going support, data collection, and reporting.
Supervising the collection and analysis of volunteer and client data, the development and application of quality control/evaluation tools, and the use of technology to improve delivery of pro bono legal services.
Supervising direct reports within SDVLP.
Engaging in other tasks and projects as needed to further SDVLP’s mission.