Staff Attorney
Location: DC Metro Area
Type: Full-Time
Industry: Non-Profit
**Only candidates local to DC/MD/VA area are being considered at this time**
**Spanish speakers are highly encouraged to apply*
Our client, a highly mission driven non-profit in the DC metro area, is seeking a Staff Attorney – Housing/Immigration. The organization operates under the principles of Justice is the goal, Law is a means. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We endeavor to find the most creative strategies to combat the abuses and injustices identified by our constituents. We value justice in the largest sense possible, not only one person at a time legal solutions, but broad, transformative solutions created in combination with immigrant leaders, organizers and other staff, other local and national organizations and direct service staff. We value our time and believe that through hard and sustained effort is often required, real rest is also necessary for creativity, stamina and “a life,” however defined.
Position Summary
The Staff Attorney is on the front line in defending our members and the community against abuse by landlords, immigration officials, police and others who may seek to exploit them. The Staff Attorney will work with a dynamic group of attorneys, paralegals, organizers and social service staff in a friendly and fast-pace environment.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Direct Legal Work
- Oversee and provide legal representation to organization members in primarily housing and some immigration cases.
- Provide brief legal services, including intake, advice and referrals, to organization members in primarily housing and some immigration cases.
- Oversee and provide legal orientation, counseling and education regarding a range of legal issues, including: poor housing conditions, illegal evictions, retaliation, race and national origin discrimination, consumer-rights violations, consumer-rights violations, immigration-related issues and other legal problems faced by members of the low-income immigrant community.
Strategic Work with Organizers
- Support legal needs of the Organizing department, including by: providing legal consultations and direct representation to members of organization’s organizing committees: responding to urgent situations such as impending evictions of organization’s members or immigration raids; collaborating on achieving campaign objectives described below; and other support at needed.
- Co-counsel with other legal services providers or pro-bono counsel to pursue impact litigation.
- Engage in advocacy and community organizing efforts and campaigns for improved laws affecting members of the low-income immigrant community at local, state and federal level by drafting legislation, presenting testimony, organizing hearings and lobbying.
Outreach/Popular Education
- Engage in education and outreach through “know your rights” presentations on issues such as housing rights and immigration rights for organization members and the general community.
- Design and disseminate legal education materials and facilitate “training of trainers” workshops in which organizers and organization members are trained to reach out to others to inform them of their rights.
- Identify clients to participate in public, organized campaigns and to speak with media.
Administrative Work
- Complete on-going data entry in a timely manner. Engage in an annual planning process to develop and execute an individual work plan, evaluating and providing feedback on plans as the year progresses.
- Provide detailed information regarding work including case examples, case profiles, and statistics for regular reporting deadlines.
- Work to improve and grow relationships with private bar and external organizations to leverage greater pro bono and other support.
Role Requirements:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
- Minimum of 1-3 years of legal experience (civil litigation experience is a plus)
- Active license with the Maryland State Bar or the ability to be admitted immediately
- Valid US Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle
- Spanish speakers are highly encouraged to apply
Knowledge, Skills, and Agilities Required:
- Bilingual English/Spanish, strongly preferred
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to work well individually and as part of a team
- Strong professional client management skills Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
This is a union position, represented in collective bargaining by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America, Local WBNG 32035 – Communication Workers of America (CWA). If you are offered and accept this position, you will be invited to become a member of the union. All bargaining unit positions require membership or agency fee payer status.
Our client offers a competitive salary and benefits package.