Volunteer Legal Advocates

08/25/2026

We’re hiring! Volunteer Legal Advocates is seeking a Managing Attorney for our Family Law Practice within our Domestic Violence Program.

This is an opportunity for an experienced attorney to supervise staff, support volunteer lawyers, provide high-quality representation to survivors, and help expand access to justice for people experiencing domestic violence.

If you have 5+ years of relevant legal experience, a commitment to working with survivors, and a passion for making a difference through the law, we’d love to hear from you.

Anticipated start: September 2026
Salary: $100,000 + generous benefits

Learn more about the role and how to apply:https://volunteerlegaladvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JobDescription-ManagingAttorney-DV-FamilyLawPractice-2026-09-SEPT.pdf

Please share far and wide!

08/22/2026

On Thursday, a mother holding her two-month-old baby was shot in the head by her partner.

This shooting, which happened with their six children in the home, is a devastating reminder of what can happen when domestic violence and fi****ms intersect.

Our thoughts are with this survivor, who remains in critical condition, and her children as they face the unimaginable aftermath of this violence.

We cannot lose sight of what this tragedy tells us about prevention. Domestic violence is a leading context for firearm violence, and when an abuser has access to a gun, the danger can escalate quickly. That is why firearm relinquishment matters. In Maryland, people subject to protective orders are prohibited from possessing fi****ms, and those orders must be enforced.

While this happened in Bowie, MD, the reminder is for all of us, including in DC and Montgomery County: when a court orders a firearm surrendered, getting that gun out of the home and out of an abuser’s hands can save a life.

Domestic violence is not a private matter. Safety depends on survivors being believed, having access to legal protection, and making sure those protections are meaningful in practice.

We are holding this survivor and her children in our thoughts.

08/17/2026

Language access isn’t just about interpretation. It’s about making sure the survivors and children we represent can understand, participate in, and have agency over their own legal matters.

That was one of the important takeaways from our recent Language Access Best Practices Lunch & Learn, presented in partnership with Ayuda.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Arlene Mariotti for sharing your expertise and practical guidance. We’re grateful for your partnership and commitment to justice!

Attorneys, are you interested in strengthening your pro bono practice? Explore our upcoming trainings: https://volunteerlegaladvocates.org/volunteerevents

08/07/2026

We're proud to share that our Volunteer Legal Advocates co-founder and Board President, Karen Barker Marcou, is featured in the Fall 2026 issue of The Advocate, the American University Washington College of Law alumni magazine!

Karen co-founded Volunteer Legal Advocates after encountering the barriers pro bono attorneys faced when practicing outside a law firm.

What began as a small effort has now grown into an organization that mobilizes 600+ volunteers annually to provide over $23 million in free legal services to thousands of survivors of domestic violence.

As Karen shares in her interview, "Success is rooted in purpose. It's doing something that inspires you and helps others, even when it is difficult and challenging."

Join us in sharing your kudos with Karen in the comments!

Read the full profile in The Advocate: https://content.yudu.com/web/44pen/0A44pfo/SummerFall2026/html/index.html?page=40&origin=reader

08/05/2026

We are grateful to the talented Learning & Development team at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader for spending time training and coaching several of our senior leaders yesterday. Continued professional development helps us strengthen our incredible professional team, and we're thankful to Hogan Lovells Cadwalader for providing this opportunity pro bono!

07/31/2026

Attorneys: looking to better support clients who speak languages other than English?

On August 12 at 12 PM, join Volunteer Legal Advocates and Ayudaa for a virtual lunch & learn on using the Interpreter Bank service. We'll cover interpreter best practices, demonstrate Language Line, and share how to apply these tools and guidelines when volunteering with us.

Learn more and register today! https://volunteerlegaladvocates.org/events/language-access-best-practices-lunch-learn/

07/29/2026

At Volunteer Legal Advocates, we're committed to breaking the cycle of violence through pro bono legal aid, and we’re looking for passionate people to join us. Explore our open roles below or at volunteerlegaladvocates.org/careers, and please share them with your networks!

The Managing Attorney for the Family Law Practice is a key member of the Domestic Violence Program in Washington, DC. The Managing Attorney is responsible for supervising internal staff, assigning family law cases, managing volunteer trainings, and more. Details at:https://volunteerlegaladvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JobDescription-ManagingAttorney-DV-FamilyLawPractice-2026-09-SEPT.pdf

The Operations & Human Resources Coordinator is responsible for human resources administration, office management, IT support, and other operational functions. Details at:https://volunteerlegaladvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/JobDescription-Operations-and-HR-Coord-2026-08-AUG.pdf

07/27/2026

ICYMI: the incredible Jessie Altman joined Good Morning Washington to perform and talk about why she dedicated her hometown concert at Songbyrd Music House to Volunteer Legal Advocates. We couldn't be more grateful for the support! Watch the interview from 7News DC:

Career-switching from lawyer to singer, Jessie Altman shared her story on how she decided to pause on the law path and venture into the world of music. (7News)

07/13/2026

We're hiring! Join our incredible Maryland team as our next Roxana Cannon Arsht Law Fellow and a key member of our Domestic Violence Program. This dynamic role is a unique opportunity to break the cycle of violence and expand access to justice for survivors in our community.

This two-year fellowship supports attorneys returning to the workforce after a career break, offering direct client representation, community clinic work, and mentorship.

We're looking for:
- J.D. + active Maryland Bar membership or ability to become an active Maryland Bar member prior to first day of employment
- Commitment to trauma-informed, survivor-centered advocacy
- Spanish fluency a plus
- Preference for candidates reentering the workforce after a career break

We offer:
- $65,000–$70,000
- 90% employer-paid health/dental
- Generous PTO
- PSLF eligibility..and more

Learn more and apply: volunteerlegaladvocates.org/careers