Safe Families Office Managing Attorney
Job Description
AVLF's mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. AVLF's Safe & Stable Families Project (SSF) assists survivors of intimate partner abuse in obtaining safety and independence by utilizing volunteer attorneys to represent them in legal cases, and its staff of lawyers, paralegals, social workers, and more to support them through the process.
SAFE FAMILIES OFFICE MANAGING ATTORNEY
The Safe Families Office (SFO) is a walk-in clinic in the Fulton County Courthouse, operated by AVLF and Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV) in partnership with the Court, to provide services to intimate partner abuse who are seeking a temporary protective order.
The SFO Managing Attorney leads and manages the program, staff, and partnerships in the Safe Families Office for AVLF’s Safe & Stable Families Team, alongside Partnership Against Domestic Violence’s (PADV) Managing Legal Advocate.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Oversee day-to-day operations in the Safe Families Office, including but not limited to ensuring adequate staffing, supplies are sufficiently stocked and available, electronics and other devices are all in working order, and the office is kept clean and opened and closed according to set practices and procedures. The SFO Managing Attorney may need to be in the SFO five days per week, if required by the needs of the office, though the current schedule is typically three days per week.
- Supervise, train, mentor, and support AVLF’s staff and interns in the Safe Families Office, including ensuring they are sufficiently trained on trauma-informed practices and the nuances of serving survivors of intimate partner abuse. The SFO Managing Attorney will provide feedback and coaching to ensure the highest quality services are provided at all times and that the Office is meeting the needs of survivors, and keeping exceptional service and respect for survivors at the forefront of their work.
- Represent survivors in approximately two (2) to four (4) TPO cases each month, including both as lead counsel and overseeing law students certified to practice under the SFO Managing Attorney’s supervision. Provide support and supervision to volunteer attorneys when necessary and appropriate.
- Keep close track of SFO practices and procedures and identifies areas of improvement and need for change as trends and practices within the Courthouse and field of intimate partner abuse change.
- Work closely with SFO Staff Attorney to identify and delegate to Staff Attorney specific aspects of operating the Safe Families Office (e.g. training and building Staff Attorney role to fully take over interviewing, training, and supervising law students in SFO).
- Develop and maintain partnerships with PADV, Fulton County Superior and State Courts, other legal and intimate partner abuse organizations, law schools, and other stakeholders, including but not limited to setting regular meetings with the Court to ensure TPO process is smooth and accessible for survivors, offices interact as efficiently as possible, and to identify and address concerns that may exist between partners.
- Actively network and build relationships in the local, as well as legal, community, including but not limited to joining domestic violence task force or similar membership, attending partners’ events, and regularly attending legal and community networking events that occur both during and after regular working hours.
- Leverage expertise in the dynamics of intimate partner abuse, Georgia protective order laws, and family violence court to maintain and grow awareness of AVLF and SFO as a national model.
Education & Experience
JD from an accredited university and an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing; five (5) to seven (7) years experience in family law litigation, including supervisory experience.
Salary: $75,000 - $80,000
Benefits
AVLF provides generous fringe benefits, including paid holidays, significant paid time off including parental leave; health insurance, life insurance, and short and long-term disability insurance; option to participate in healthcare FSA and dependent care FSA, law school loan reimbursement up to $500 per month (after a 3-month waiting period and subject to additional terms); 401k with 5% contributed by AVLF regardless of employee contribution; and Georgia Bar dues and CLE expenses.
