Managing Attorney

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas•Dallas, TX

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides high-quality, free civil legal services to low‑income individuals and families in 114 counties across North and West Texas. Our mission is to ensure equal access to justice and improve the lives of low-income communities by providing high-quality legal representation, strategic litigation, valuable legal advice and meaningful collaborations, outreach, and community education. LANWT seeks a dynamic, self‑motivated Managing Attorney with vision, initiative, strong ability to lead, and a strong commitment to public interest law to manage its Dallas office. The Managing Attorney provides overall leadership and direction for the office's legal service delivery, overseeing a multidisciplinary team of unit leaders, staff attorneys, paralegals, and support staff organized across multiple practice units, and brings strong interpersonal and relational leadership to the supervision, coaching, and development of staff office wide. The Managing Attorney also identifies and pursues opportunities for strategic advocacy and community outreach, and cultivates and grows relationships with community partners in collaboration with low-income persons and community groups.

Requirements

Licensed to practice law in Texas a minimum of 5 years required.
Prior management or leadership experience is required, ideally including experience managing or supervising diverse, multidisciplinary teams across multiple practice units or office locations.
A demonstrated, zealous commitment to public interest law, serving the indigent, or other relevant legal experience, with extensive experience and proven skills in progressive litigation.
Strong understanding of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Texas Rules of Evidence required.
Excellent legal research and legal writing skills.
Demonstrated interpersonal and relational leadership skills, including self-awareness, empathy, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics within a diverse team.
Ability to demonstrate a positive work ethic, promote a healthy work environment, and provide mentorship and training to staff.
Experience coordinating community services, partners, and education.
The ability to think and plan strategically and to develop and implement projects.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
Ability to engage in occasional work-related travel.
Readiness to have a flexible or alternate work schedule, including commitments to evening hours.
Excellent attendance record.

Nice To Haves

Fluent in Spanish — both verbal and written is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee and direct the operations of the Dallas office, providing overall leadership across a multidisciplinary team of unit leaders, staff attorneys, paralegals, and administrative support staff organized across multiple practice units.
Direct the office's litigation strategy, legal advocacy initiatives, and centralized intake systems.
Manage case staffing protocols across units, including the evaluation, assignment, and regular review of open cases to ensure optimal progression and balanced workload distribution.
Handle a light caseload as appropriate and provide case consultation and strategic advice to unit leaders and attorneys on complex or high-priority matters, balanced with core managerial and administrative obligations.
Provide high-quality legal representation in strict alignment with LANWT internal policies and procedural frameworks.
Conduct rigorous audits of active and closed case files across units to verify quality of service, adherence to file maintenance protocols, grant restrictions, and precise recordkeeping.
Coordinate consistently across practice units to ensure uniform application of LANWT policy, quality standards, and service delivery expectations.
Model LANWT's mission and values — equal access to justice, dignity, and client-centered advocacy — in daily interactions with staff, clients, and community partners.
Foster a psychologically safe, respectful, and inclusive office culture across supervising attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, and support staff.
Recognize and proactively address signs of secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, or burnout among staff who serve vulnerable and trauma-exposed clients.
Practice active listening and transparency, empathetic communication when delivering feedback, resolving conflicts, and responding to staff concerns.
Build trust and cohesion across a multidisciplinary team by recognizing individual strengths, communication styles, and professional development needs.
Navigate difficult conversations involving performance, conduct, or interpersonal conflict with fairness, discretion, and respect for staff dignity.
Sustain staff morale and engagement through consistent, values-aligned leadership, particularly during periods of change, high caseloads, or organizational stress.
Deliver professional mentorship, training, and strategic guidance to unit leaders to foster a positive, collaborative, and productive work environment across the office.
Directly evaluate and coach unit leaders and oversee the office's overall performance management and human resources processes, including corrective actions or disciplinary interventions escalated by unit leaders.
Lead recruitment, onboarding, and professional development of attorneys and staff within a large office comprising multiple practice units.
Process and approve essential administrative and operational items, including timekeeping records, travel authorizations, leave requests, check requisitions, training applications, and payroll documentation.
Participate actively in organizational management meetings, professional development trainings, and designated administrative projects.
Formulate and execute comprehensive community outreach and education initiatives tailored to the needs of the low-income population, client groups, community stakeholders, and external service providers.
Establish and cultivate strategic partnerships with external organizations to facilitate collaborative and integrated case management for clients.
Ensure strict compliance with all grant requirements across units, including tracking milestones, managing objectives, and securing timely submission of required reports.
Lead grant administration workflows, including assisting with application development, budget preparation, outcome forecasting, and organizational fundraising efforts.
Adhere fully to all professional mandates set forth by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the Texas Lawyer's Creed.
Align all local office legal operations with the American Bar Association's Standards for Provision of Civil Legal Aid.