Director of Legal Services
Shalom Task Force (STF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and addressing intimate partner violence within the Jewish community. Through confidential hotline and chatline services, legal services, education and prevention programming, and professional and communal training, STF works to ensure that survivors have access to culturally responsive, survivor-centered support and advocacy.
Our Legal Services Department
Shalom Task Force established its Legal Services Department in 2010 in response to the significant legal barriers faced by survivors of domestic violence, particularly those navigating the intersection of civil law, family systems, and religious and communal concerns. Since its founding, the department has served more than 3,000 clients and grown into a specialized legal program providing representation, advocacy, consultation, and brief legal services in matrimonial and family law matters.
The department represents survivors in matters including orders of protection, custody and visitation, divorce, support, and other legal issues arising in the context of domestic violence. STF's legal team brings particular expertise to cases involving coercive control, economic abuse, and the complex cultural, religious, familial, and communal considerations that may affect survivors within Jewish communities. The department also works closely with courts, community organizations, social service providers, and pro bono partners and has expanded access to legal support through community-based partnerships and legal clinics.
The Opportunity
Shalom Task Force seeks an experienced, passionate, and collaborative Director of Legal Services to lead and continue to grow its Legal Services Department.
The Director will oversee a dynamic team of attorneys and paralegal staff providing high-quality civil legal services to survivors of domestic violence, with a particular focus on matrimonial and family law matters in New York Family Court, Supreme Court, and Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Court.
This is a senior leadership position that combines legal practice, hands-on supervision, program development, community partnership, and strategic growth. The Director will provide substantive supervision to legal staff, maintain a small caseload of complex matrimonial and domestic violence matters, strengthen departmental systems and protocols, and help shape the future direction of STF's legal advocacy.
The Director of Legal Services reports to STF's CEO and collaborates closely with other members of STF's leadership and program teams to ensure coordinated, survivor-centered services.
What You'll Do
Lead and Supervise a High-Quality Legal Practice
Lead, supervise, mentor, and support STF's attorneys and paralegal staff.
Provide hands-on supervision of a litigation-intensive matrimonial and family law practice.
Conduct regular case reviews and work with attorneys to develop litigation and case strategy.
Review pleadings, motions, briefs, agreements, correspondence, and other written legal work.
Provide direct litigation support, including second-seating trials, hearings, and depositions when appropriate.
Ensure high standards of legal representation, ethical practice, documentation, and client service.
Maintain a small caseload of complex matrimonial, family law, and domestic violence matters.
Shape and Grow the Legal Services Program
Provide strategic leadership for the continued development and expansion of STF's Legal Services Department.
Develop and refine policies, procedures, protocols, and systems to support a growing legal services practice.
Identify emerging community needs and opportunities to expand the accessibility and impact of STF's legal services.
Collaborate with STF's Hotline, social work, education, and other program teams to strengthen referrals and coordinated support for survivors.
Participate in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and broader agency initiatives.
Build Partnerships and Advance Advocacy
Maintain and expand relationships with community organizations, courts, government agencies, legal service providers, law firms, and other partners.
Develop and strengthen pro bono partnerships to expand resources available to STF clients.
Represent STF in coalitions, task forces, professional meetings, and community forums.
Develop and deliver trainings for attorneys, advocates, professionals, communal leaders, and other audiences on domestic violence, matrimonial and family law, coercive control, and related legal issues.
Support Sustainability and Impact
Ensure adherence to government, foundation, and other grant requirements supporting the Legal Services Department.
Oversee accurate program data collection and reporting.
Prepare and contribute to grant reports, program narratives, and funder communications.
Collaborate with STF's leadership and development teams on grant proposals, funding opportunities, and fundraising efforts.
Communicate the department's work, impact, and emerging needs to funders, donors, and other stakeholders.
Participate in budget planning and responsible stewardship of departmental resources.
Who You Are
We are looking for an experienced attorney and thoughtful leader who combines excellent legal judgment with a commitment to high-quality, survivor-centered representation.
An Experienced Matrimonial and Family Law Attorney
You have:
A J.D. from an accredited law school and are admitted to practice law in New York State.
At least 10 years of experience practicing matrimonial and/or family law, including substantial litigation experience.
Significant experience in New York Family Court and Supreme Court; experience in Integrated Domestic Violence Court is strongly preferred.
A strong command of issues involving divorce, custody and visitation, orders of protection, support, and other family and matrimonial law matters.
Excellent legal research, writing, analysis, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
A Strong Supervisor and Team Leader
You bring:
Prior experience supervising attorneys and/or legal professionals.
The ability to provide meaningful case consultation, litigation strategy, feedback, and mentorship.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build a collaborative, supportive, and accountable team culture.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
A Survivor-Centered and Culturally Responsive Practitioner
You have:
A deep understanding of domestic violence and the complex issues encountered by survivors.
The ability to understand how coercive control, safety, economic abuse, family dynamics, and community pressures can intersect with legal proceedings.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Cultural humility and particular sensitivity to the religious, familial, and communal considerations that may affect survivors within Jewish communities.
A Program Builder and Collaborative Partner
Ideally, you also bring experience with some of the following:
Developing or expanding legal services programs, policies, systems, or protocols.
Building relationships with courts, community organizations, legal service providers, and pro bono partners.
Grant management, grant reporting, and/or grant writing.
Work Schedule and Location
This position can either be four days a week or full time. STF maintains a hybrid work policy for staff whose responsibilities do not require full-time in-office presence. Under STF's current policy, most staff are expected to work in the office or perform other in-person work at least two days per week. This policy is subject to change based on organizational and programmatic needs.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $100,000–$130,000, commensurate with experience.
Benefits
Shalom Task Force offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
Health, dental, vision, and pet insurance
Paid vacation and sick leave
Pre-tax transit benefits
Paid federal and Jewish holidays
Parental leave
Additional employee benefits
In addition to regular vacation time, the Shalom Task Force office is closed for most federal and Jewish holidays.