Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead a private non-profit law firm that is the primary provider of civil legal aid to low-income persons in the Texas Panhandle and in North Central and West Texas.

About the Position
LANWT seeks an experienced leader who is passionate about its mission to ensure justice for people living in poverty through the provision of high-quality legal representation and to further the ends of justice and improve the lives of low-income people through the rule of law. This leader will work with a diverse and dedicated Board of Directors, an active management team, and an experienced and committed staff. The next CEO of LANWT will have the opportunity to fully realize the potential of the organization, which is poised to build upon its fiscal strength, excellent legal services, and leadership role throughout Texas and the country, by spearheading a shift to strategic, systemic advocacy.

Duties and responsibilities for the new CEO include:
• Developing a clear strategic vision for LANWT for the next two to five years and beyond
• Updating LANWT’s mission statement to reflect its commitment to systemic advocacy through the vehicle of the exceptional direct delivery of legal services to individual clients
• Developing a set of core expectations about standards for providing legal services, about developing and maintaining productive relationships with clients and community organizations, about achieving a proper balance between systemic advocacy and individual representation, and about standards of mutual performance accountability among managers, attorneys, and staff
• Engaging managers, staff, clients, and the Board of Directors in re-formulating LANWT’s mission statement and vision, carrying out strategic planning, and developing and living up to these core expectations
• Supporting, developing, communicating with, and actively engaging a diverse and dedicated Board of Directors
• Leading and training a committed management team and staff in providing excellent legal services
• Maintaining LANWT’s fiscal and operational strength by meeting the requirements of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), Texas Access to Justice Foundation, and other funders
• Maintaining LANWT’s existing financial resources while developing new resources to support its work, particularly with underserved client populations and in underutilized practice areas
• Nurturing effective relationships between LANWT and the client, human services, bar association, business, and political communities
• Expanding and improving LANWT’s robust pro bono program
• Cultivating the organization’s technology resources and use of social media and other communications strategies, and mobilizing technological advances to more effectively serve clients
• Enhancing the delivery of legal services to clients in rural areas
• Improving the staff salary structure and morale

Qualifications:
• Must have a JD Degree, have practiced law for at least 10 years, and have or be eligible for a Texas law license
• Significant management experience, including motivation and supervision of staff, oversight of financial reporting, development of budgets, and compliance with grant and contract requirements
• Must possess excellent communication skills
• Previous successful leadership in a multi-million dollar organization, preferably a legal aid program (preferred)
• Familiarity and experience with the federal and state regulations that apply to LANWT through the agencies that fund legal aid programs, including the LSC (preferred)
• Experience in shifting an organization’s focus to include more strategic advocacy and in engaging in and carrying out strategic planning (preferred)

The successful CEO candidate will:
• Be passionate about LANWT’s mission and demonstrate a commitment to providing superb legal services to the indigent
• Value diversity and be culturally competent
• Be accessible and open to: everyone in the law firm, the Board of Directors, and community stakeholders
• Demonstrate strategic thinking and exceptional problem-solving skills
• Possess a strong work ethic and sense of accountability

Applications
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, however, candidates are urged to submit their materials before November 30, 2012. Interested candidates should submit a letter expressing in detail why they are interested in the position of CEO of LANWT, as well as what they believe that they can contribute to the future of LANWT and its client community. The letter should be accompanied by a current resume and the names and contact information for three references. Candidates should also complete and submit the Supplemental Information on Attorney Applicants form, which is available at the “Careers” link on LANWT’s website.

Materials should be submitted electronically to CEOsearch@lanwt.org as a pdf file or in Microsoft Word format.

About Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

LANWT is a private non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income persons in North and West Texas. Its mission is to ensure justice for people living in poverty through the provision of high quality legal representation and to further the ends of justice and improve the lives of low income people through the rule of law.

2013 brings a fresh start to this legal aid law firm. The next CEO will have the opportunity to fully realize the potential of the organization, which is now poised to build upon its record of providing excellent legal services and taking a leadership role throughout Texas and the country. Among the program’s many strengths are its diverse and dedicated Board of Directors, its experienced middle managers and staff members, and a balanced 2013 budget. The CEO will work from the program’s headquarters in Fort Worth.

LANWT has a budget of approximately $17 million annually. Its 15 offices are in Abilene, Amarillo, Brownwood, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Lubbock, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Plainview, San Angelo, Waxahachie, Weatherford, and Wichita Falls. In 2013, the program will employ nearly 200 staff members, including about 90 attorneys. More than 1.5 million people, residing in 114 counties covering 106,000 square miles, qualify for LANWT’s services under federal poverty guidelines.

In 2012, LANWT will close about 25,000 cases. LANWT’s priorities include:

o Children/Youth Issues – Protecting, assisting, and supporting children and youths at risk and preserving and defending children’s rights.
o Community and economic development – Promoting, protecting, preserving, and coordinating programs and efforts to improve the economic stability of the low income members of the community through development, investment, and procurement of resources designed to aid economic growth in distressed areas, including partnering with other non-profits serving the low income community.
o Consumer – Protecting the rights of low-income and elderly consumers and preventing their victimization by unscrupulous sales and debt collection practices.
o Education – Addressing issues arising out of the public school curriculum, suspension, truancy, teen pregnancy, disability issues, discrimination, and student loan problems.
o Elderly – Addressing special issues affecting the elderly, such as health care, abuse, and nursing home problems.
o Employment – Preserving and protecting employees’ rights in the workplace and access to benefit programs for the unskilled, unemployed, and underemployed.
o Family – Preserving, protecting, supporting, and stabilizing the lives and rights of families, particularly what remains of families ripped apart by violence and tragedies.
o Health – Preserving and protecting access to health care and health care benefits programs for the elderly and the indigent.
o Housing – Preserving, protecting, developing, obtaining, and removing obstacles to affordable safe housing.
o Individual Rights – Preserving and protecting the legal rights of low-income citizens and their access to our fundamental institutions at the federal, state, and local levels.
o Probate – Providing for the future disposition of property and for the safety and well-being of family members who may be incompetent or disabled.
o Public Benefits – Preserving, obtaining, and regaining benefits for, and thereby economically stabilizing, those persons eligible for programs designed to aid the most needy members of our community.

Fort Worth is the 17th-largest city in the United States and one of “America’s Most Livable Communities.” Fort Worth is a thriving center of culture and commerce. It boasts a dazzling downtown area, remarkable museums, historic sites, spectacular annual events, and much more. To learn more about Fort Worth, visit www.fortworth.com.

To learn more about LANWT and its work, visit www.lanwt.org.