The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), Rebuild, Overcome, and Rise (ROAR) Center is seeking a Staff Attorney. This is a 12-month grant funded faculty position in the Graduate School.
Background:
The ROAR Center at the University of Maryland Baltimore is a “one-stop-shop” in Baltimore City where survivors of crime can access wrap around services, which include legal, social work, nurse care management and therapy - all in one place. The Staff Attorney has a payroll title of Research Assistant and is directly supervised by the Director of Legal Services. All the staff works closely and collaboratively with each other to provide support and advocacy to survivors of crime in Baltimore City, and to conduct outreach to and establish strong working relationships with organizations with which we partner, especially those working with people who are at higher-risk of victimization (such as people of color, LGBTQ individuals, immigrants - especially undocumented, people suffering from a mental illness and/or a substance abuse disorder, living with a disability, engaging in sex work, living in poverty, or experiencing homelessness). Subjects for litigation related to the victimization include protection or peace orders; enforcing crime victims’ rights; housing cases; accommodations for education and employment; U and T visas; and access to financial resources and public benefits. ROAR works with survivors of all types of crime including but not limited to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, gun violence, assaults, carjacking and thefts, and illegal housing conditions. This position requires experience in housing law, particularly evictions and lease bifurcation.
Everyone working at ROAR has a commitment to working with people from diverse backgrounds, a dedication to social justice and access to justice for all victims of crime in Baltimore City, and an understanding of the intersectionality of violence, racism, sexism, poverty, and other forms of discrimination. This is a full-time, 12-month academic appointment that is grant funded. ROAR is located at 520 W Fayette Street, Suite 320, Baltimore, MD 21201.
BENEFITS:
This position offers a generous benefits package that includes 22 vacation days, 14 floating and holidays, 15 sick days; comprehensive health insurance and retirement options; and tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any of the University System of Maryland schools.
Essential Duties:
- Provide direct legal services to survivors of crime and maintain accurate case records and data required for grant reporting.
- Communicate professionally with other community agencies, most frequently with but not limited to police, prosecutors, victim advocates, and case managers.
- Reach out to, and meet with, organizations in and around Baltimore City that work with people who are at higher risk of criminal victimization.
- Develop and present Victims’ Rights trainings for attorneys and the community.
- With ROAR’s Executive Director, recruit, train and mentor pro bono attorneys to assist ROAR in meeting the clients’ needs.
Qualifications
- Experience working with crime victims or other marginalized and underserved populations.
- Ability to deal with individuals in crisis in a professional and compassionate manner.
- Ability to manage case load effectively while addressing urgent matters, including, but not limited to, providing brief legal advice and counsel, emergency court hearings with extremely short notice, and client advocacy.
- Litigation experience, preferably in the context of public interest law.
- Knowledge of local organizations that assist communities at high-risk of victimization preferred.
- Excellent coordination and organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues.
- Excellent oral communication skills.
- Excellent research and writing skills.
- A reputation for integrity, dependability, and professionalism.
This is a 12-month appointment, non-tenure track faculty position with the title of agent or senior agent. Appointments are renewable, contingent on funding, and are eligible for promotion. Rules governing such appointments are located at https://graduate.umaryland.edu/policies/.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school. Must be admitted to practice law in Maryland and be in good standing or be eligible to waive into the Maryland bar and be in good standing in all jurisdictions in which currently barred.
- 5+ years actively practicing law, with most of that time focused on housing law.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 3+ years of trial experience with crime victims or other marginalized and underserved populations.
- Experience working in the criminal justice system.
- Experience practicing law in Baltimore City.
Search for job number 230000SM here.