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 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 | $92,126 | - | $62,689 | $66,350 |
6 | $89,551 | $94,948 | - | $64,473 | $68,316 |
7 | $91,104 | $97,767 | $120,498 | $66,258 | $70,280 |
8 | $92,657 | $100,589 | $122,450 | $68,041 | $72,246 |
9 | $94,210 | $103,411 | $124,494 | $69,826 | $74,212 |
10 | $95,763 | $106,230 | $126,621 | $71,611 | $76,177 |
11 | $97,571 | $109,051 | $128,832 | $73,395 | $78,057 |
12 | $100,233 | $111,872 | $131,113 | $75,179 | $79,938 |
13 | $102,894 | $114,692 | $133,463 | $76,963 | $81,818 |
14 | $105,554 | $117,514 | $135,874 | $78,746 | $83,698 |
15 | $108,216 | $120,334 | $138,342 | $80,530 | $85,578 |
16 | $110,876 | $123,156 | $140,862 | $82,314 | $87,458 |
17 | $113,538 | $125,975 | $143,427 | $84,098 | $89,338 |
18 | $116,199 | $128,796 | $146,037 | $85,881 | $91,218 |
19 | - | $131,617 | $148,685 | $87,665 | $93,098 |
20 | - | $134,437 | $151,368 | $89,449 | $94,978 |
21 | - | $137,259 | $154,085 | $91,233 | $96,858 |
22 | - | $140,079 | $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 | - | - |