Director of Family and Matrimonial Practice

New York, NY

Full Time

Legal Programs: Family and Matrimonial Practice

Senior Manager/Supervisor

DIRECTOR OF FAMILY AND MATRIMONIAL PRACTICE

ABOUT US

Her Justice is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and with women and gender diverse people living in poverty in New York City. We recruit and mentor volunteer lawyers to provide free legal help in the areas of immigration, family, and matrimonial law to address individual and systemic legal barriers.   

100% of our clients are living in poverty in the five boroughs of New York City.  In FY2024, 92% of our clients were women of color, 85% were survivors of intimate partner violence, 70% were mothers, and 49% spoke a primary language other than English.

Since 1993, we’ve provided life-changing free legal help to over 45,000 women and children and we’ve pursued policies that have bettered the experiences and outcomes for hundreds of thousands more. Her Justice is committed to creating a more fair and functional civil justice system for New Yorkers, so they can build safer, freer futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.

The organization’s “pro bono first” model positions Her Justice at the nexus of private and public legal service—leveraging volunteer lawyers and law firms to represent clients who otherwise could not afford counsel, while mentoring and supervising attorneys to deliver trauma-informed, high-quality advocacy. The work is both deeply human and highly strategic, requiring leaders who combine empathy, credibility in the field, and the ability to guide experts across disciplines.

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.

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 generous paid day off package, and a hybrid work environment.

OUR COMMITMENT:

HER JUSTICE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. HER JUSTICE does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, unemployment status or any other legally protected basis, and to the extent permitted by law. Qualified candidates of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

IN-OFFICE WORK:

Her Justice works on a hybrid schedule with in office days being Wednesday and Thursday. We currently do not accept fully remote applicants.

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