The Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy, Inc. (ECI), through its Opal Mitchell Lee Property Project (OMLPPP) is seeking to contract with a newly licensed attorney with up to two years of relevant work experience. The Staff Attorney’s primary practice are will be landlord/tenant issues and eviction defense.
The ideal candidate will be newly licensed with up to two years of experience in dealing with eviction defense and other landlord-tenant issues. The candidate can expect to practice law primarily in justice of the peace courts. The position will entail carrying a full caseload from start to finish, including the drafting of pleadings, conducting discovery, and representing clients in court. Moreover the attorney would be required to interview clients, conduct home visits, counsel clients and mediate or litigate cases as required. The position will also entail drafting pro se documents, and correspondence.
This attorney will also supervise student attorneys. The attorney will be expected to interact with the students in a fashion that promotes a quality learning experience and extensive exposure to the everyday practice of law. The attorney will be expected to involve the students in every aspect of law office practice including, client intakes, client interviews, drafting correspondence and documents, managing a case and file maintenance, utilizing case management software, drafting memos and pleadings, and providing advice as well as representation to clients.
The qualified candidate must have a commitment and passion to helping low-income clients and the ability to work in a small office environment. The ability to speak and write in Spanish is a plus. The position is a contract position. ECI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Additional Job Duties include:
Handling administrative activities associated with the OMLPPP as directed by the Managing Attorney or Executive Director;
Managing litigation and trial matters for low income and other disadvantaged persons and communities;
Performing other job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Juris Doctorate from an ABA approved law school.
Required Licensing/Certification: Licensed to practice law in Texas.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Requires excellent organizational, written and oral communication skills. Must have the ability to use personal computers and Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, Power Point and Access; and other software typically used in the profession such as Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, ProDoc or similar.
Work Experience: Requires up to one (1) years of related experience.
Leadership/Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervises student attorneys and provides overall direction and expectations for the work done on the OMLPPP cases assigned to this Staff Attorney. This position typically reports to the OMLPPP Managing Attorney.
Personal/Organizational Contacts: Requires strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills as well as the ability to interact with people from a wide range of professions and disciplines and clients with varying backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.
The attorney is expected to:
• Educate the urban and traditionally under-represented community about rental assistance programs and their rights when facing evictions
• Utilize best practices in file maintenance and case management, and enforce the use of such standards by students.
Our ideal candidate…
• Bilingual ability considered a plus;
• In depth knowledge of landlord-tenant issues
Please send resume, cover letter and writing sample to [email protected] Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.