Outreach Specialist

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change.

Since 1911, Maryland Legal Aid has provided high-quality legal aid to vulnerable, low-income people and communities – helping to remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges, achieve stability and independence, and reach their goals. MLA also identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. MLA’s core work includes eviction and foreclosure prevention, family law, children’s rights, consumer protection, securing public benefits, and access to healthcare. MLA advocates operate primarily through the courts, via individual representation of indigent clients, but also engage in impact litigation, public communication and outreach, and policy advocacy.

Through this holistic approach, Maryland Legal Aid serves to amplify the voices of tens of thousands of economically disadvantaged and vulnerable Marylanders each year and seeks to be a leader in the legal services field nationwide

Job Summary: MLA seeks an organized, collaborative, creative, impassioned individual as the Southern Maryland Outreach Specialist. The Outreach Specialist is a part of MLA’s statewide Community Lawyering and Development (CLD) unit and will lead targeted outreach activities in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties. As a member of CLD’s statewide outreach team, the Outreach Specialist will be supervised by the CLD Community Outreach Manager and will work closely with the Southern Maryland office to develop and execute strategic, data-informed, relationship-driven outreach to low-income communities.

The Outreach Specialist will engage externally with community organizations, anchor institutions, service providers, and grassroots partners to develop strategic relationships and to foster collaborations. The position will also require analysis and application of internal and external data to develop targets and high-impact strategies for outreach. The position will also entail frequent collaboration with MLA colleagues on coordinated outreach strategies, effective messaging, and creating media opportunities. 

Duties and Responsibilities:     

• Build stakeholder relationships in furtherance of the targeted outreach objectives; foster and grow collaborations among community organizations, grassroots organizations, service providers, and anchor institutions. 
• Strategize, plan, and execute outreach, training, and media opportunities in communities in partnership with community-based entities or leaders focused on housing justice, the Tenant Right to Counsel Project and other Community Lawyering and Development priority legal areas.
• Identify larger trends and issues for community members and clients, working with MLA staff, external partners, and directly impacted residents to develop strategies informed by the values and best practices outlined by the Strategic Outreach Plan.
• Actively contribute to and participate in community-based and tenant-led meetings and activities. 
• Contribute to required programmatic reporting and provide quantitative and qualitative data for evaluation of the Office/Unit’s outreach strategies. 

Essential Qualifications:  

• Ability to work independently, to initiate outreach activities, and to maintain consistent reporting about outreach plans to Community Outreach Manager.
• Demonstrated experience in applications of race equity analysis. 
• Demonstrated experience with public speaking, delivering presentations, and facilitating meetings.  
• Experience in or background related to relational organizing, grassroots organizing, community outreach, housing policy, and/or housing and social services agencies. 
• Creativity and flexibility in solving problems and meeting challenges. 
• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations. 
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary setting to facilitate a coordinated community response and provide holistic services to clients. 
• Strong listening skills and capacity for teamwork. 
• Diverse economic, social, and cultural experiences.  
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Teams. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior experience in managing independent projects or assignments. 
• Fluency or proficiency in a language other than English. 
• Experience in the non-profit legal services field.
• Residency, work and/or volunteer experience in Calvert, Charles or St. Mary’s County.
• Experience with case management software, geospatial analysis software, or visual collaboration platforms. 

Work Environment 

This is a hybrid office/home position. It also requires frequent field work, outside the general office setting. The position requires regular in-person interactions in community settings and at court buildings, as well as interactions via phone, videoconference, instant messaging, and email. 

Benefits

The current salary range for the paralegal position is $51,500 - $91,258. Paralegals will be paid in accordance with MLA’s Workers Union current salary scale, which is subject to revision annually through collective bargaining negotiations. For example:

• one (1) year of experience is $52,494.
• five (5) years of experience is $56,470.
• ten (10) years of experience is $61,440.

Additional compensation is available for those with Bachelors’ and/or Masters’ Degrees, and for staff with foreign language competencies.

In addition, MLA offers employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions, three weeks of paid time off, sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, a hybrid work arrangement, and more. 

Additional Requirements:

• Current Resume
• Cover letter explaining your skills and interest in the position
• References will be required at the time of the final interview

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Maryland Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, reflective of our core values, for all employees.

Anyone interested in applying must apply via the online application.