Legal Aid DC staff receive generous benefits and competitive salaries. Legal Aid sets salaries using a step system based on previous experience and tenure at Legal Aid. All employees receive annual step increases July 1. Salary steps and scales for non-supervisory staff have been negotiated through collective bargaining with UAW Local 2023, but the compensation package applies to all employees.
Legal Aid Employee Benefits Include:
- 20 days annual leave, increased leave after 2 years of employment
- 15 days sick leave with unlimited carryover
- 18 weeks fully paid parental leave, with a total of 26 weeks of parental leave available
- 13 paid holidays
- Fully paid health insurance for the employee (with an opportunity to contribute to a higher-coverage plan)
- Up to 3% annual retirement match
- and more!
2026 Salary Scales
Attorneys
Pre-Bar attorneys and fellows begin at Step 0 on the salary table below. New hires’ salary step is determined by crediting 1 step for each prior year of attorney experience since graduating law school. Law degree optional jobs may be credited differently. Attorneys are eligible to be promoted to senior staff attorney positions with 5 years of experience, including at least 1 year at Legal Aid.
Legal Support Staff and Operations
New hires’ salary step is determined by crediting 1 step for each prior year of relevant experience.
Supervisors
New hires’ salary step is determined by crediting 1 step for each prior year of relevant legal experience or other relevant experience for other professionals. New supervisors receive 25 days annual leave, increased after 5 years of employment.
Step | Staff Attorney, Fellow | Senior Staff Attorney, Senior Counsel, Project Manager | Supervisor | Tier 1 Legal Support Staff | Tier 2 Legal Support Staff |
0 | $72,830 | - | - | $53,739 | $56,523 |
1 | $75,431 | - | - | $55,550 | $58,489 |
2 | $77,646 | - | - | $57,335 | $60,453 |
3 | $80,234 | - | - | $59,119 | $62,419 |
4 | $82,822 | - | - | $60,904 | $64,383 |
5 | $87,998 | $92,127 | - | $62,689 | $66,350 |
6 | $89,551 | $94,949 | - | $64,473 | $68,316 |
7 | $91,104 | $97,768 | $120,498 | $66,258 | $70,280 |
8 | $92,657 | $100,590 | $122,450 | $68,041 | $72,246 |
9 | $94,210 | $103,412 | $124,494 | $69,826 | $74,212 |
10 | $95,763 | $106,230 | $126,621 | $71,611 | $76,177 |
11 | $97,571 | $109,052 | $128,832 | $73,395 | $78,057 |
12 | $100,233 | $111,873 | $131,113 | $75,179 | $79,938 |
13 | $102,894 | $114,693 | $133,463 | $76,963 | $81,818 |
14 | $105,554 | $117,515 | $135,874 | $78,746 | $83,698 |
15 | $108,216 | $120,335 | $138,342 | $80,530 | $85,578 |
16 | $110,876 | $123,156 | $140,862 | $82,314 | $87,458 |
17 | $113,538 | $125,976 | $143,427 | $84,098 | $89,338 |
18 | $116,199 | $128,798 | $146,037 | $85,881 | $91,218 |
19 | - | $131,618 | $148,685 | $87,665 | $93,098 |
20 | - | $134,438 | $151,368 | $89,449 | $94,978 |
21 | - | $137,260 | $154,085 | $91,233 | $96,858 |
22 | - | $140,080 | $156,831 | $93,017 | $98,738 |
23 | - | - | $159,602 | $94,800 | $100,618 |
24 | - | - | $162,397 | $96,584 | $102,499 |
25 | - | - | $165,214 | $98,368 | $104,379 |
26 | - | - | $168,051 | - | - |
27 | - | - | $170,903 | - | - |
28 | - | - | $173,773 | - | - |
29 | - | - | $176,655 | - | - |
30 | - | - | $179,551 | - | - |
31 | - | - | $182,459 | - | - |
32 | - | - | $185,376 | - | - |