Tasks and Duties
Legal Aid has a broad and energetic housing practice. We prioritize representing tenants where the involvement of an attorney can prevent an avoidable eviction and preserve affordable and subsidized housing. Our Housing Law Unit typically consists of at least four supervising attorneys, fifteen attorneys, two “loaned associates” from law firms, one or two project coordinators, a legal assistant/paralegal, two investigators, a tenant support specialist, and two intake specialists.
While Legal Aid has a hybrid work plan, the staff in our Housing Unit work at Legal Aid’s central office, our community office in Southeast DC, and our court-based office in the Landlord and Tenant Branch of the DC Superior Court. Staff work primarily on two projects: an Eviction Defense Project, which provides advice, brief services, and limited and extended representation to low-income tenants facing eviction or at risk of eviction; and an Affordable Housing Preservation Project, which seeks to preserve and expand safe and affordable housing for low-income District residents through building-wide legal representation.
Staff attorneys will be expected to handle a caseload of both limited and full representation matters and attend court hearings remotely and in-person. Even though many court hearings are remote, our work does require some in-person court appearances and meetings with clients. Some building-wide meetings may occur on evenings or weekends. Attorneys additionally conduct intakes through our courthouse office as well as our phone-based Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network (LTLAN). All of this work is coordinated with other legal services providers and includes strong pro bono partnerships with area law firms and other attorneys in the community. Finally, staff attorneys periodically conduct outreach and Know Your Rights trainings in the DC community to client-eligible groups of tenants and tenant associations.
Salary and Benefits
The attorney will be paid in accordance with Legal Aid's policy based on years of full-time legal experience. Lateral hires will receive credit for years of relevant work experience as follows.
Starting salaries are as follows:
Entry-level attorney (who has passed the Bar): starting at $60,991
Attorney with 3 years full-time legal work experience: starting at $68,120
Attorney with 5 years full-time legal work experience: starting at $76,344
Attorney with 10 years full-time legal work experience: starting at $88,791
Legal Aid generally provides two salary increases per year, depending on funding availability: a cost-of-living increase at the beginning of the year and a step increase in July.
Legal Aid offers a generous benefits package includes fully paid health insurance (for the employee), annual discretionary retirement match, 12 paid holidays, three personal days and generous annual and sick leave allotments starting at 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave per year.
This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320.
The ideal candidate will have the following:
Experience in legal services, ideally with a background in housing law;
Strong litigation, organizational, communication, and leadership skills;
A demonstrated commitment to racial, social, and economic justice;
Ability to work collaboratively with Legal Aid colleagues and other legal services providers;
Ability to multi-task and prioritize assignments; and
Bilingual skills (in Spanish, Amharic, or another language prevalent in Legal Aid’s client community) strongly preferred but not required.
Membership or eligibility for membership in the DC bar is required.
Legal Aid values an inclusive, diverse workplace and encourages applications from interested persons of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage applications from people with personal experience with the criminal legal system and/or with lived experiences in the communities we serve. Interested persons are encouraged to apply immediately and should submit a letter of interest and resume here: https://legalaiddc.bamboohr.com/careers/121. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Position remains open until filled. No emails or phone calls, please.