Description:

We are accepting applications from junior and more experienced bilingual Spanish speaking attorneys with supervision and project-management skills. The Housing Unit fights for the stability of vulnerable individuals and families by preventing homelessness through legal advocacy and promoting housing quality and affordability for low-income tenants. The Housing Unit is significantly expanding its eviction prevention services to support implementation of Philadelphia's Right to Counsel for tenants in court proceedings, as well as legal services support for Philadelphia's new Eviction Diversion Program.

Lawyers in the Housing Unit zealously represent private, public, and subsidized housing tenants in matters involving eviction, illegal lockouts, fair housing violations, termination or loss of subsidy, substandard housing, and discrimination, as well as barriers to stable housing for those with criminal records or domestic or sexual violence issues. Representation includes all the elements of litigation including client interviewing, investigation, discovery, identifying and preparing witnesses and exhibits, pleadings, briefs, and representation at hearings at trial level and appellate levels as appropriate in state and federal court. The staff attorney will primarily represent a high volume of individual clients each week in court hearings and administrative hearings. The staff attorney may also provide supervision and support to paralegals, social workers, and interns who are providing advice, brief service, and some representation.

Lawyers in the Housing Unit engage in non-litigation focused advocacy, including policy, administrative and legislative advocacy and racial justice initiatives, as well as organizing and teaching community and professional education sessions on a variety of issues, including lead paint elimination, domestic violence, criminal records, federal housing policy, tenant eviction laws, preservation of affordable housing, etc. Lawyers in the Housing unit also work with the Managing Attorney to establish connections to community and government agency partners and to develop impact advocacy strategies to remove barriers to housing and general access to the courts for low-income individuals and families.

Required qualifications include:

Strong team player eager to work in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment
Commitment to high quality, compassionate representation for clients
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to handle direct service cases and impact cases of a complex nature
Ability to work cooperatively with staff at all levels of the organization
Excellent people skills and the ability to maintain positive relations with a diverse population
Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice