Director of Legal Programs
6 days ago
Full-time
Description
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Founded in 1967, California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is the oldest public interest Indian rights law firm in the country, promoting the fundamental rights of California tribes and Indians through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, community development, and other strategies for systemic change. CILS provides a full range of legal representation to California Indian tribes and Indian organizations, advocates for the rights of California Indians at the local, state, and national levels, and provides direct services and community education to low-income Native American individuals on issues related to Federal Indian Law. Currently, CILS offers services statewide and maintains four offices throughout California - Eastern (Bishop), Southern (Escondido), Northern (McKinleyville), and Central (Sacramento). This position is in the Principal Office, located in Sacramento, CA. For additional information about CILS, go to our website at
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Director of Legal Programs (DLP) holds statewide responsibilities and provides strategic leadership and oversight for California Indian Legal Services' (CILS) direct service legal work. Based in Sacramento, the DLP supervises the Directing Attorneys for all four field offices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, efficient, and effective legal services that meet client needs.
The DLP is responsible for implementing policies and procedures that ensure consistent, high-quality legal services across the organization. They lead the execution of direct service legal priorities outlined in CILS's strategic plan, working closely with field offices and leadership to achieve organizational goals and objectives. As a key leader, the DLP maintains a program-wide perspective, acting as a vital connection between field offices, internal leadership, and the broader community.
In partnership with the Director of Compliance and Legal Technology, the DLP ensures compliance with funding requirements, program policies, and procedures, while contributing to efforts to secure future funding. The DLP also provides mentorship and professional development to Directing Attorneys, supporting their growth and the achievement of field office goals.
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this position requires regular travel to CILS field offices, participation in management and Board of Trustees meetings, and occasional travel for other organizational needs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Direction
- Ensures legal issues affecting California Indians and Tribes are identified and effectively, efficiently and aggressively pursued by the program advocates through legal, management and administrative support.
- Collaborates with the Executive Director, Director of Legal Impact and Legislative Affairs, Director of Compliance and Legal Technology, attorneys, and Board to assess program direction and provides recommendations for the overall development of effective program services.
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive picture of CILS' legal work and works collaboratively with the Executive Director and Director of Legal Impact and Legislative Affairs to ensure that program activities and strategies effectively fulfill the vision of CILS established by the Board of Trustees.
- Implement legal priorities, policies, and procedures for case handling, client communications, and community engagement.
- Attend weekly field office Case Acceptance Meetings to provide guidance on legal questions, case acceptance, and compliance.
- Conduct case reviews with Directing Attorneys to ensure quality and consistency.
- Review all data, including client satisfaction data, to evaluate legal program effectiveness and implement course corrections as needed.
- Address client grievances in collaboration with the Executive Director.
- Ensure a consistent and efficient client experience, beginning with the first point of contact.
- Review requests for complex case representation and discuss with Director of Legal Impact and Legislative Affairs and provide recommendations to the Executive Director.
- Advise Directing Attorneys and staff attorneys on substantive, procedural, evidentiary, ethical, and strategic matters.
- Travel regularly to service areas to supervise field office activities and build relationships with staff.
- Works with the Director of HR & Administration to fill all positions in the legal program, advising on best strategies for recruitment and retention.
- Supervises all Directing Attorneys.
- Carries an appropriately sized caseload concomitant with other duties and responsibilities.
- Serve as co-counsel on complex cases, providing guidance and strategic direction.
- Act as a general expert in federal Indian law and Tribal law, capable of stepping into any case as needed.
- Temporarily manage cases during staff transitions to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
- Coordinate and facilitate periodic advocates' meetings to share knowledge and align practices.
- Develop, coordinate, and facilitate in-house training events for advocates and new attorneys.
- Create and implement a comprehensive orientation program for new attorneys.
- Collaborate with the Director of HR & Administration to manage law student fellowship programs, ensuring a valuable experience for participants.
- Develop and lead initiatives to establish a pipeline from law students to CILS employment.
- Create mechanisms to keep advocates informed of legal developments and changes in the law.
- Create and oversee brief banks to ensure CILS attorneys have resources readily at their disposal.
- Provide hands-on mentorship to staff attorneys, reinforcing legal skills and concepts.
- Partner with the Director of Legal Impact and Legislative Affairs to ensure attorneys have development opportunities through co-counseling, supervision, evaluations, and training.
- Lead field office initiatives related to the strategic plan.
- Ensure strategic plan goals are implemented and aligned across all offices.
- Reports to the Executive Director on strategic plan actions status.
- Analyzes data to ensure strategic plan implementation is on track and achieving desired outcomes.
- Implements Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) to course correct strategies.
- Works with Directing Attorneys to adjust and update strategic plan actions and tasks as appropriate.
- Presents strategic plan progress for legal strategies to staff, leadership and CILS Board.
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Attend all leadership meetings
- Prepare, analyze, reports on data trends for board and to leadership to make recommendations for improvement of services.
- Attend and presents at all Board of Trustees meetings.
- Serves as a Corporate Officer.
- Actively promotes a cohesive and compelling view of CILS' mission and services to California Indian tribes, individuals, and organizations.
- Meets regularly with Tribes and Tribal Leaders throughout the state to ensure no concerns with CILS legal services and awareness of CILS services.
- Ensures regular tribal community engagement and attendance at community events by field offices to ensure awareness of CILS services.
- At the request of the Executive Director, represents CILS in public forums.
SALARY:
Competitive salary: $125K - $150K, CILS creates job position wage and salary ranges using data from California non-profit legal services annual data sources; employees are placed within a range depending on degrees, certifications, experience, qualifications, and other factors.
BENEFITS:
CILS provides an extensive benefits package, including:
• Multiple high-quality, and low-cost medical plans.
• 100% coverage for the employee and 90% for dependent premiums.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible medical/dental, dependent care, and public transportation expenses.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match.
• 17 paid holidays annually (includes office closure from December 24-January 1) plus an additional day for your birthday.
• Vacation time off, starting at 13 days accrued per year.
• Sick leave is set at 12 days per year.
• Paid leave for jury duty/witness services, Election Day, bereavement.
• Free professional development courses and learning opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program with access to free mental health services.
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program for eligible positions.
• Supplemental insurance, including additional life and disability coverage.
Location:
This position is in person in the Principal Office (Sacramento, CA) Mondays through Fridays with optional teleworking on Mondays and Fridays.
To Apply:
Submit a resume, cover letter, three professional references, and a writing sample. We will accept applications until the position is filled, but CILS does not accept incomplete applications.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- J.D. or L.L.M. degree from an accredited law school and active membership in the California State Bar, or ability to obtain admission.
- Minimum of ten years' significant experience in the practice of law.
- Ten years extensive background in federal Indian law, including experience in systems change work.
- Five years of experience living in or working with the tribal community, preferrable in California.
- Deep knowledge of Tribes statewide, with well-established and trusted relationships across tribal communities.
- Strong knowledge of California's tribal-state relations, including tribal sovereignty, self-governance, and intergovernmental agreements.
- Extensive experience in state and federal litigation.
- Ten years management and supervisory skills, supervising legal work, attorneys and support staff.
- Strong ability to communicate effectively with attorneys at all levels of experience.
- Proven ability to provide strategic vision and guidance while effectively implementing policies and procedures.
- Demonstrated commitment to the CILS vision, mission and values.
- Legal Services and/or Nonprofit legal work experience.
- Experience with the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) rules and regulations.
- Fundraising, grant writing and reporting, and other program development.
- Experience securing and managing grants or contracts related to legal services.
- Experience in legislative advocacy, policy development, or administrative law affecting Tribes.
- Experience with impact litigation or high-profile legal advocacy.
- Experience developing and delivering legal training or community education programs.
$125K - $150K a year
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