Co-Legal Director

Co-Legal Director DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF) is rooted in the conviction that income should never be a barrier to justice. Through innovative programming and a commitment to equity, DCALF delivers overwhelmingly free legal services in family law, probate, estate planning, and immigration, bridging the gaps in DC’s civil justice system and delivering transformative legal services that empower DC residents to thrive. Position Overview DCALF seeks a Co-Legal Director who will contribute to the leadership of the legal program, with particular focus on overseeing the firm’s immigration legal services, partnerships, and outreach. This new position reflects DCALF’s shared leadership model; two Co-Legal Directors will serve as equal partners in shaping the strategy, culture, and service delivery. They will lead, manage, and provide overall vision for the work of our 20-person legal team that provides legal services ranging from immigration, probate/estate planning, and family law services. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in immigration law, strong managerial and supervisory experience, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing equity while leading high-quality, client-centered legal services. Specific areas of responsibility include: Practice Area Leadership

• Oversee DCALF’s immigration practice, including providing support to the Immigration Law Managing Attorney.
• With the Co-Legal Director, oversee probate and estate planning services and provide support to the Probate and Estate Planning Managing Attorney, ensuring ethical, high-quality representation by all attorneys in the practice.
• Collaborate with Co-Legal Director and Pro Bono Litigation Director on family law matters, as necessary.
• Review and provide feedback on legal filings, training and outreach materials and other written work product.
• Ensure consistent application of legal standards, ethics, best practices, and DCALF’s core values within the practice areas.
• Monitor emerging legal needs and develop strategies to expand and improve services.

Program Management

• Collaborate with the Co-Legal Director, Managing Attorneys, and Executive Director to set programmatic goals, priorities, and growth strategies across the legal program.
• Strengthen and monitor compliance with case management expectations, data entry requirements, and outcome reporting.
• Review, analyze, and interpret data to evaluate program performance and identify improvement.
• Draft, update, and implement legal program policies, protocols, and best practices that support greater efficiency and capacity.
• Support organizational readiness for audits, grant applications, and grant reporting.

Team Management

• Directly manage up to 5 direct reports, including but not limited to 1-2 managing attorneys, 2-3 legal assistants, and a staff attorney.
• Provide ongoing supervision, coaching, and professional development to legal program staff, including but not limited to those with supervisory responsibilities.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support confidential personnel matters.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, and offboarding of legal program staff.

Organizational Leadership

• Participate as an active member of DCALF’s Leadership Team.
• Cultivate strong relationships with clients, community organizations, judges, government agencies, law firms, law school partner institutions, board members, and legal services partners.
• Represent DCALF in stakeholder meetings, community engagement opportunities, and collaborative initiatives, and fundraising opportunities.
• Coordinate outreach strategies to expand access to services for underserved communities.
• Play a central role in identifying and augmenting DCALF’s contributions to systemic policy reform initiatives.

Qualifications

While we understand that no single candidate can possess every qualification listed below, the following are considered priority areas:

• Membership in the District of Columbia Bar.
• 10+ years of legal practice experience.
• At least 5 years of legal supervisory experience, including coaching leaders, developing high-performing teams, and setting an inclusive, positive workplace culture.
• Substantial legal experience in civil legal services, civil litigation, or other public interest practice, with expertise and connections in immigration law.
• Substantial litigation experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.
• Excellent project management, creative and strategic thinking, judgment, and leadership skills.

Considered desirable:

• Experience in policy/legislative advocacy, probate and/or estate planning, family law practice.
• Spanish proficiency.

Compensation & Benefits This is a full-time salaried, exempt position. To uphold organizational pay equity standards, an annualized flat salary of $120,000 has been budgeted for the first year of employment, with a range of high-quality benefits.

Work Environment

DCALF is currently working in a hybrid remote/in-person model. Due to the responsibilities of this position, it is paramount that the candidate come into the office, DC Superior Court, immigration court, and/or other DC-area locations with ease and regularity, approximately two days per week. Application Process DCALF has retained Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving nonprofits, to conduct this search. View the full job description and submit a PDF resume and detailed cover letter at www.good-insight.org/careers. Send confidential inquiries to [email protected]. Resume reviews begin immediately. For best consideration, please apply by late January 2026. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search. Equal Employment Opportunity DC Affordable Law Firm is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. DCALF strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sex (specifically including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, unhoused status, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation political affiliation, tobacco use, credit information, status as unemployed, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job