NEWS

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Rural Legal Services will work collaboratively with the Commission, contractors, and stakeholders to oversee the development and implementation of a two-year project to drive legal resources to Colorado’s rural legal deserts.  This is a full-time independent contract position, hybrid (in-office/remote), and limited to two years.  This position may develop into a full-time staff position or may be extended for future projects, as Commission funding and staffing needs evolve.

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Salary: $70,000-$90,000

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RESPONSIBILITIES: ATJC Rural Legal Deserts Project

• Work with the ATJC Executive Director to form and manage a rural legal deserts project steering committee and organize steering committee meetings.

• Work with the ATJC Executive Director to identify experts needed to assist the rural legal deserts project steering committee.

• Coordinate and support the steering committee in its strategic planning process and help finalize a strategic action plan.

• Oversee the successful execution of 2-year grant, including implementation of the strategic plan and anticipated deliverables.

• Oversee data collection process.

• Review, track, and help analyze data.

• Prepare quarterly and semi-annual project reports.

• Work with the ATJC Executive Director to develop legislative strategy and materials to educate members and staff of the General Assembly about rural justice needs.

• Coordinate communications strategies, including outreach and education throughout the Colorado bar, courts, law schools, student groups, law firms, government agencies, and users of the justice system.

• Help identify emerging legal issues in Colorado.

• Attend meetings of the ATJC, the Equal Justice Conference, and other committee meetings and conferences as needed.

• Travel on occasion to rural legal desert communities to support and coordinate local efforts.

• Provide periodic written and oral status updates to the ATJC Executive Director, the project steering committee, and the ATJC Delivery Committee as needed.

• Review, oversee, and track project budget and submit project expenditure reports.

• Work with the ATJC Executive director to identify and pursue additional sources of project funding and support resources.

• Coordinate other special projects as needed.

 

 

EDUCATION

Required: J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. Licensed in Colorado or eligible to sit for the next available Colorado bar examination.

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EXPERIENCE 

Requires a minimum of five years of experience:

1. overseeing community-based nonprofit programs;

2. providing legal and/or social services to underserved communities; and

3. coordinating volunteer projects and events.  

Excellent public relations, management, organizational, and communication skills required.

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ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

Knowledge of rural legal deserts and interventions in Colorado and nationwide. Understanding of the landscape of existing legal and non-legal resources for marginalized communities in Colorado. Proven track record of developing and executing successful community-based public interest programs in alignment with project goals and objectives. Ability to build productive professional relationships with allied professionals and partner organizations. Prior supervisory experience and experience leading and managing a team of professionals preferred.

 

CORE COMPETENCIES

Execution: Drives scope development and management; develops and manages project budgets, schedules and timelines; employs strong organizational skills; incorporates time management principles into workflows.

Decision Making: Collects and structures the available data impacting the project; makes timely decisions based on facts, circumstances, and needs; conducts scenario analysis.

Communications: Conveys information to all key stakeholders in both written and verbal formats; determines and utilizes the appropriate communication channels; infers meaningful insights from a collection of data; employs active listening; prepares and delivers presentations.

Strategy Development: Understands the impact of a project directly to and across various functions; understands the impact of a project to the larger organization; integrates organization goals into the project scope and deliverables; develops metrics to track progress towards goals; understands project and organizational dependencies.

Team Management: Motivates and inspires the team; leads by example; manages and resolves conflict; builds relationships within and outside the team; delegates appropriately, demonstrates team organization and governance.

Technical Competence: Understands and integrates appropriate project management tools and processes; applies/obtains the necessary requisite subject matter expertise (SME).

Critical Thinking: Determines the validity of project progress; maintains project objectivity; applies ongoing analysis to the project; integrates the project with cross-functional objectives.

Leadership: Takes initiative; mentors team members; effects change and monitors progress; responds in a politically astute manner.

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How to apply:

Applications should be submitted electronically and include a cover letter, resume, and list of at least three professional references, including contact information for each.  Submit applications to:

Elisa Overall

Executive Director

Colorado Access to Justice Commission

elisa@coloradoaccesstojustice.org

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