Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) is a private, non-profit law firm that provides -high quality civil legal services to low-income residents of the District of Columbia. NLSP has a long tradition of fighting for justice for DC’s poorest residents, combining direct representation to protect essential rights and opportunities for low-income individuals and families with efforts to achieve broad-based change. Our three offices are located in wards 5, 7, and 8 to maximize our accessibility and connections to the communities we serve.
NLSP’s housing practice includes representation of tenants in eviction cases, affirmative litigation to preserve affordable housing and protect tenant rights, representation of clients before administrative agencies on housing related cases, and advice and counsel on a variety of housing related matters.
NLSP seeks a paralegal-investigator to assist its Housing Unit beginning July 6, 2020. NLSP’s Eviction Defense Paralegal-Investigator will support 9 staff attorneys who represent clients facing eviction.
The paralegal-investigator must be passionate about social justice and achieving housing stability for low-income residents of the District of Columbia.
Start date is July 6, 2020
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
· Conduct intake interviews with potential clients by phone and in person
· Inspect housing accommodations for housing code violations, take photographs of relevant issues, and write detailed reports on housing conditions
· Give presentations on the basics of landlord and tenant law at community outreach events
· Assist housing attorneys to maintain files and enter data into NLSP case management system.
· Review and analyze discovery and other case documentation. Assist in determining scope, timing, and direction of the investigation. Initiate new areas of investigation
· Gather and maintain records and evidence, including performing database searches, interview witnesses, and serve subpoenas
· Review, organize, and maintain inventory of closed case files from housing attorneys. Assist housing attorneys to close files, including drafting closing memos or letters as assigned by housing attorneys
· Create newsletters, demonstrative exhibits for trial, flyers, and other materials
· Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Demonstrated commitment to fighting poverty
· Experience working directly with low-income people in either a volunteer or professional setting
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Familiarity with DC communities and/or DC community organizations
· Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams
· Familiarity with Microsoft office and comfort with learning new software, particularly new databases
· Fluency in Spanish or another language frequently spoken by low-income DC residents, highly desirable
SALARY AND BENEFITS
• Salary range $43,000 - $49,500
• Generous benefits package
REPORTS TO
• NLSP Housing Managing Attorney, Lori Leibowitz
APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references to: Lori Leibowitz, Managing Attorney, Housing Unit at [email protected]. Please include the words “Paralegal-Investigator Application” and your last name in the subject line of your email.
The position will remain open until filled with priority to applications submitted by March 9, 2020.