Colonel Ruby W. Linn Managing Attorney – Hybrid Position

Veterans Legal Services

Job Description

Join an award-winning, growing, and mission-driven legal aid organization dedicated to

improving the lives of military veterans through civil legal services!

Position Overview:

The Colonel Ruby W. Linn Managing Attorney (“managing attorney”) will be an integral part of

VLS’s leadership team and will oversee the case work of VLS’s team of attorneys in a variety of

areas, including direct provision of legal assistance, leveraging VLS’s pro bono panel, and

identifying opportunities for systemic change advocacy. The managing attorney is supervised

by, and will work closely and collaboratively with, VLS’s Co-Executive Director & Chief Counsel.

Diversity and Inclusion:

VLS believes diversity strengthens the organization and enhances the fulfillment of its mission.

Individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences, for example, those who identify as people

of color, LGBTQ+, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation Philosophy:

VLS offers a competitive compensation and benefits package to attract and retain top talent

and to promote the well-being and professional development of its team members, all of whom

help advance the organization’s mission. VLS provides compensation information in its job

postings to ensure transparency and efficient use of applicants’ time. Employee compensation

is evaluated annually and is informed by data from peer organizations, the industry, individual

employee performance, organizational impact, and organizational financial standing.

Compensation adjustments may include cost of living increases, increases due to comparability

data, merit increases, promotions, or bonus payments.

VLS is proud of its comprehensive benefits package for qualified employees, which includes

health, dental, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending

account, state Paid Family Medical Leave contributions (employee’s portion covered), generous

401K employer match, student loan repayment assistance, partial phone reimbursement,

continuing education opportunities, a generous sick, personal, vacation, and holiday schedule

including paid time off between December 24th and January 1st and half days on Fridays in the

summer. To promote team member resilience, following three years of employment VLS also

provides two additional personal days per year.

Compensation and Culture:

The managing attorney position is a 35-40 hour per week hybrid position with a salary range of

$110,000-$130,000 annually, depending on experience. This position is eligible for the benefits

described above, subject to waiting periods for certain benefits as may be required. VLS offers a

congenial working environment and is committed to promoting work/life balance and wellbeing

for its team members who have dedicated their careers to improving veterans’ lives.

Hybrid Work:

VLS currently offers a hybrid work arrangement for its team members. Applicants should

anticipate one in-office day weekly and to come to the office as needed for meetings or other

tasks. Team members may choose to work from home or the office the remainder of the week.

The managing attorney should also anticipate some in-person attendance at VLS’s legal clinics

at partner sites. VLS has a new office that is located near North Station in Boston, convenient to

the orange and green lines and commuter rail. While this is not a fully remote position, VLS

strives to balance the convenience of remote work with the benefits of coming together to

promote team cohesion. VLS continually evaluates organizational and team members’ needs

and may modify its hybrid policy in the future.

Primary tasks include but are not limited to:

• Supervise a growing team of attorneys (anticipated to be 5 by 2024) who are providing

legal services to veterans across the Commonwealth on cases including: family law,

housing, debt, CORI, and benefits including state and federal veterans benefits;

• Conduct weekly case reviews/check-ins with each team member supervised and provide

ongoing support to each, developing strategies to ensure each attorney has an

appropriate volume of cases and identifying support needed;

• Collaborate with Pro Bono Director and team members to identify cases appropriate for

placement with pro bono counsel and maximize leveraging of pro bono panel;

• Provide professional development support to team members;

• Participate in performance reviews for team members supervised;

• Provide direct representation on a small caseload to maintain skills and create impact;

• Support team members in assisting pro bono counsel seeking assistance;

• Collaborate with development and administrative staff on program planning, meeting

grant requirements, and identifying case victories or other activities to highlight.

Secondary tasks include but are not limited to:

• Support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the organization;

• Periodically attend legal clinics, such as at Dept. of Veterans Affairs hospitals;

• Identify issues commonly faced by significant numbers of VLS clients and collaborate

with the Co-Executive Director & Chief Counsel to assess for opportunities for systemic

change advocacy through appellate litigation or legislative/regulatory advocacy;

• Participate in education and outreach to the community about legal issues faced by

veterans, including speaking on panels at bar associations or other events;

• Maintain relationships with community groups and peer organizations;

• Attend VLS-hosted events and represent VLS at relevant events.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Must be an attorney who is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts or eligible for

admission by motion at the time of hiring;

• Commitment to valuing and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion;

• Significant attorney experience, preferably in the legal aid sector;

• Experience supervising a team of attorneys;

• Substantial litigation experience, preferably in family law and landlord/tenant law;

• Eagerness to engage in professional development opportunities;

• Ability to mentor, supervise, and co-counsel effectively while prioritizing opportunities

for team members’ growth and professional development;

• Ability to identify and pursue solutions with a positive, can-do attitude;

• Commitment to cybersecurity and proficiency in Microsoft Office and G-Suite, with

ability and willingness to learn additional tools, applications, and technologies;

• Sensitivity to the circumstances of VLS’s client population and the challenges inherent in

legal aid work;

• Excitement for VLS’s mission and commitment to fulfill position responsibilities in

accordance with VLS’s strategic plan.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience in management, administration, or leadership at a legal aid organization;

• Experience working with economically disadvantaged populations;

• Experience with state and/or federal benefits law;

• Experience with appellate level litigation or other systemic change advocacy;

• Experience with measurement and evaluation or performance metrics.

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resumé to

ManagingAttorney@veteranslegalservices.org. VLS is unable to respond to phone or social

media inquiries. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

About the Colonel Ruby W. Linn Managing Attorney position title:

This position is named in memory of Colonel Ruby (Winslow) Linn. Born in 1910 in

Massachusetts, Ruby served in the Army, first as a second lieutenant and then as a major. She

ultimately became chief of the Food Service Division and director of the Dietetic Internship

Program at Walter Reed. She retired in 1963. In 1966, Ruby married fellow Army veteran LaVon

Parker Linn. The pair shared a love for travel and a deep commitment to philanthropy in service

of those in need. The Ruby W. and LaVon P. Linn Foundation was created by Ruby in 2001 and

has generously supported organizations serving veterans and other charitable organizations

ever since.