Description
The Role:
Location: Hybrid - 2 Days in office (W/Th) 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Department: Law & Policy
Reports to: Director of Legal Programs
Position Summary:
The Director of Family and Matrimonial Practice leads a core area of Her Justice’s legal services, managing a
team of attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants focused on representing women and gender diverse people
living in poverty in New York City. This role oversees all aspects of family and matrimonial law practice, including case intake, supervision, pro bono case placement, and volunteer attorney training.
The Director must be a leader in the field—someone who commands respect through litigation expertise,
deep subject-matter knowledge in family and matrimonial law, and a reputation for integrity and empathy. The
ideal candidate will be an empathetic and transparent leader who can rebuild and sustain trust within a
team that has experienced transition, foster collaboration across practice groups, and model open
communication and collegiality.
The Director serves as a senior legal resource, mentoring staff and volunteers while ensuring high-quality
representation in matters involving custody, child support, orders of protection, and divorce. The position also
coordinates legal clinics and continuing legal education (CLE) sessions, strengthening relationships with
private law firms and supporting the development of trauma-informed, culturally responsive legal advocacy.
The role requires supervising experts—experienced attorneys with strong litigation backgrounds—while
ensuring alignment, consistency, and engagement across the practice. The Director will guide attorneys in
developing strategy and ensuring client needs and mentoring goals are met simultaneously.
Beyond direct legal practice management, the Director plays a key role in shaping strategic initiatives and
contributing to Her Justice’s policy and advocacy efforts. Working closely with senior leadership, the Director
helps define department goals, launch new programs, and support systemic change aligned with the
organization’s mission. The ideal candidate is an experienced family law practitioner and supervisor who
brings a deep commitment to social justice, a strong equity lens, and the ability to lead with both strategic vision and day-to-day operational effectiveness.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities:
- Work with six-person Senior Legal Team to ensure that the department’s case placement and
department goals are met, and work with staff to meet goals and aspirations. - Serve as senior resource and authority to staff on substantive issues in Family and Matrimonial
issues. - Directly oversee a team of 8 including Supervising Attorneys, Senior Staff Attorneys, Paralegal, and
Legal Assistants in the family and matrimonial law practice area. - Lead the department in developing new initiatives, strategic planning, and participating in policy
efforts, etc. - Mentor and support volunteer attorneys representing low-income clients in family/matrimonial
matters, including, providing consultation, reviewing documents, brainstorming strategy, and
ensuring volunteers are prepared. - Conduct ongoing CLE training programs on family/matrimonial issues.
- Manage and coordinate legal clinics with partnering law firms.
- Assess Family/Matrimonial cases for placement with pro bono attorneys.
- Participate in community outreach, media relations, and other forms of marketing and public
education. - Serve on committees and panels relating to policy issues and/or reform efforts integral to Her
Justice’s mission. - Play a leading role in shaping emerging areas of work including but not limited to Consumer debt
and coerced debt relief, alternatives to litigation such as mediation, and policy and systems work. - Support cross practice systems modernization by helping design, test, and champion the implementation and migration to new Salesforce based database.
The Person:
Skillset And Qualities:
- Experienced Program Manager. You have a demonstrated ability to design, implement, and
oversee complex legal service delivery programs. You are adept at setting strategic goals,
evaluating impact, and adjusting to meet evolving client and organizational needs. - People-Centered and Inclusive Leader. You are a seasoned and empathetic manager who
fosters a collaborative team culture, develops talent, and creates a supportive, high-performance
environment rooted in equity and trust. - Strategic Thinker with Operational Acumen. You bring both vision and structure to legal
practice leadership—balancing day-to-day operations with long-term planning, resource
allocation, and cross-departmental coordination. - Skilled Relationship-Builder and Trusted Advisor. You excel at cultivating relationships across
diverse stakeholders, including internal teams, pro bono partners, community organizations, and
policy networks. - Mission-Driven Advocate. You bring a deep commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice
and a clear understanding of how civil legal systems impact marginalized communities. You are
committed to trauma-informed and client-centered advocacy, particularly for survivors of intimate partner violence and individuals from marginalized communities. - Management Experience At a High Level: You will supervise attorneys who practice independently, offering guidance on strategy rather than direct casework, and navigating the
power dynamics between clients, volunteers, and staff. You are adaptable and innovative,
comfortable with a changing landscape driven by shifts in government policy, the pro bono
environment, and client needs. A sense of humor, openness, and humility will make you a valued
member of a dynamic and nimble team. - Familiarity With The Nexus of Pro Bono, Public, and Private Practice: You appreciate the
distinct role of Her Justice as a “matchmaker” between clients and volunteer lawyers, and the
mentoring responsibilities that come with that model.
Qualifications
Required
- JD degree and bar admission in New York State.
- At least 10+ years of experience handling matrimonial and family law cases in New York State.
- 5+ years of experience supervising attorneys required.
- 3+ years of experience with program management.
- Experience representing indigent clients, survivors of domestic violence and clients from diverse backgrounds and communities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and legal database systems.
Preferred
- Experience delivering legal services in a nonprofit or social justice setting.
- Experience working with and supporting pro bono attorneys or volunteers.
- Familiarity with Salesforce or other client relationship management (CRM) systems.
- Experience in policy advocacy, training development, or community engagement initiatives.
- Knowledge of immigration law or other legal issues relevant to families living in poverty.
- Demonstrated ability to rebuild or sustain internal trust, foster collaboration, and lead through transition.
Compensation:
- For this position, the salary range is $130,000 to $155,000.
- Benefits include medical insurance, a 401K plan, a liberal paid day off policy, and a hybrid work environment.
