Program Counsel II or III and Veterans Grant Administration – Legal Services Corporation – Washington, DC

Overview: Established by Congress in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the country’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. LSC currently funds 134 independent, non-profit legal aid organizations with more than 800 offices throughout the nation. LSC’s mission is to promote equal access to justice and provide grants for high-quality civil legal assistance.

Under the general direction of the Director of the Office of Program Performance (OPP) and his or her designee, works with grantee programs to coordinate disaster relief initiatives and administer LSC disaster grants, and to support and encourage pro bono innovations, develop best practices and pro bono initiatives, improve outcomes for clients through pro bono collaborations, including efforts to support the Veterans Pro Bono grant, and lead the Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant program (PBIF). Approximately 60% of the Program Counsel’s time will be spent on general PBIF work, 20% on the Veterans Pro Bono grant, and 20% on coordination of disaster relief initiatives and administration of LSC disaster grants. Moderate travel is required. This position is included in a collective bargaining unit represented by the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, Local 135.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Pro Bono Innovation Fund

Implements each stage of the PBIF lifecycle, including pre-award information and grant application, online application, application review, award process, grant progress monitoring, data collection and outcomes measurement, and award closure.
Coordinates reviewers and application review process, including online reviewer system. Evaluates applications for funding under the PBIF program by reviewing proposals for funding and related documents and makes recommendations for funding to the Director.
Monitors grants awarded under the PBIF program, including information and data analysis, review, and approval of project milestones, budgets, and adherence to all grant assurances. Communicates expectations and reinforces requirements with grantees. Assists with the identification of compliance issues and determines referrals of grantees as needed for compliance and enforcement.
Participates on panels and conducts presentations regarding the use of pro bono to leverage and improve the reach of the delivery of legal services for national and regional conferences and online legal aid community events.
Researches and assesses approaches to using pro bono in the delivery of legal services and develops models that improve legal service delivery, particularly through the use of innovative pro bono collaborations.
Conducts on-site visits to: monitor PBIF projects; provide technical assistance to grantees on pro bono initiatives; and to assess grantees’ use of pro bono in their delivery systems. Acts as a resource regarding LSC grantees’ use of pro bono and the development and implementation of Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) plans.
Delivers training and orientation for grant applicants and grantees on the requirements and expectations for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants. Engages in other grants management activities related to the implementation, and promotion of the application process and the oversight of extant PBIF grants. Helps maintain documented PBIF program procedures and ensures that staff follow all rules and requirements.
Works with the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) to draft regulatory, program letter, and policy language to implement and interpret requirements of the LSC Act and appropriations riders, and on the review and revision of current regulations and development of new regulations pertaining to private attorney involvement, as appropriate.
Promotes knowledge-sharing among grantees and helps prepare and update content for the PBIF and PAI web initiatives.

Disaster Response

Serves as a point of contact for LSC in coordinating disaster response, along with disaster response team.
Oversees and monitors grants awarded through various LSC Disaster Grant programs including Hurricane Sandy, LSC Disaster Relief, and Cargill, including information and data analysis, review, and approval of project milestones, budgets, and adherence to all grant assurances. Communicates expectations and reinforces requirements with grantees. Assists with the identification of compliance issues and determines referrals of grantees as needed for compliance and enforcement.
Participates on panels and conducts presentations regarding disaster relief and recovery, particularly regarding legal aid assistance.
Researches and assesses approaches to disaster relief and recovery, particularly regarding legal aid assistance.
Conducts on-site visits to monitor disaster grants and to provide technical assistance to grantees related to disaster recovery.

Veterans Pro Bono

Administers the competition and renewal application processes for the Veterans Pro Bono Program Grant, including preparing application materials, reviewing applications, developing funding recommendations, and processing grant award materials.
Performs other activities related to administration of Veterans Pro Bono Program, including conducting on-going oversight of grantee operations, and coordinating LSC administrative and oversight functions with the staff of the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Works on special projects as assigned by OPP’s Director.
Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Submit a résumé, cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for the position, and salary history to:

Legal Services Corporation

Office of Human Resources (#1297)

3333 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor

Washington, DC 20007-3522

Fax: 202.337.6383

Email: jobs@lsc.gov

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