Deputy Director/Litigation Director

Deputy Director/Litigation Director for Iowa Legal Aid.  Preferred location is Des Moines, but location of the position is open to discussion.

Iowa Legal Aid:  Iowa Legal Aid was founded in January, 1977, as the Legal Services Corporation of Iowa.  In January 2003, the program merged with the Legal Aid Society of Polk County to form Iowa Legal Aid.  Iowa Legal Aid provides services to low-income Iowans in all 99 Iowa counties through ten regional offices.  The program is governed by an 18 person Board of Directors and has a budget of approximately $6.5 million.  Funding for the program comes from over 100 sources including the national Legal Services Corporation, the state of Iowa, IOLTA, several local funding sources, and a statewide fundraising campaign called the Campaign for Equal Justice.  The program has a long history of high quality advocacy, including the representation of clients before state and federal courts at district and appellate levels, state and legislative administrative agencies and a comprehensive community legal education component.  Iowa Legal Aid's regional offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City, and Waterloo.  Iowa Legal Aid's subgrantee, HELP Legal Assistance, is located in Davenport. More information about Iowa Legal Aid can be found at www.iowalegalaid.org.

The Deputy Director/Litigation Director is an executive level staff position, responsible for making decisions about the implementation of Iowa Legal Aid's mission to provide high quality legal services to low-income Iowans.  This person will work closely with the Executive Director and the two other Deputy Directors. Primary responsibility will include directing and supporting strategic legal advocacy, regulatory compliance and personnel management as well as assisting in the management of a not-for-profit corporation.  Litigation support will be provided to staff in all of Iowa Legal Aid's regional Offices.  The position will also have responsibilities in overseeing Iowa Legal Aid's unified intake system and the development of content for Iowa Legal Aid's website, www.iowalegalaid.org and advocate site, probono.net/Iowa.  There may also be responsibility for managing some special grants that Iowa Legal Aid receives to provide specialized services to clients with particular legal needs.

Applicants must be graduates of law school and licensed to practice law in Iowa, be available for the next scheduled bar examination or eligible for admission on motion.  A minimum of ten years experience practicing law is required.  Applicants must possess a demonstrated interest in poverty law and have a strong commitment to providing a full range of legal services to low-income people.  Prior experience working in and managing multi-office intake system preferred. Demonstrated ability to handle complex litigation and appellate work along with prior administrative and management experience is also important. The ability to function well as part of a team, be organized and meet deadlines is required.