MLA announces an immediate opening for a full-time Supervising Attorney position for the Housing and Consumer Law Unit of the Baltimore City office of Maryland Legal Aid. The Baltimore Housing Consumer Law Unit is an extremely busy unit and the applicants must realize the demands of this position are significant. The unit handles a wide range of housing and consumer law matters with a strong emphasis on litigation in State Courts and the Federal Bankruptcy Court. The Supervising Attorney is responsible for planning the unit’s work, implementing the priorities, assigning work, hiring, supervising, and evaluating staff to assure quality legal representation. The Supervising Attorney will also carry a case load.
The supervisor will supervise, oversee, and support the work of the staff and advocates in the Housing and Consumer Law unit in the delivery of legal services including advice and representation, outreach and advocacy in the areas of landlord tenant, real property, public and subsidized housing, bankruptcy, federal and state lending statutes, foreclosure, debt collection, and tax sale in an efficient, client centered, and compassionate manner.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Plan and assign the legal work of the unit in coordination with the chief. In addition, determine case assignments and referrals for extended or pro bono representation.
Help identify systemic issues within the unit and help develop strategies to address them to accomplish the work of the unit.
Provide positive leadership, guidance and supervision to a staff that currently consists of staff attorneys, paralegals, law clerks, and administrative staff to include the following in coordination with the chief:
Monitor and supervise case handling of staff to ensure quality representation.
Evaluate the performance of staff and make recommendations for improvement, if appropriate.
Guide the professional development of staff, including co-counseling of cases; reviewing substantive legal work; providing meaningful assessments and evaluation of staff and their advocacy efforts, caseloads, and productivity; and working on appellate litigation. Identify and address staff training needs.
Assist and assure staff comply with required timekeeping and grant-reporting obligations.
Encourage staff engagement with the community by doing outreach and education.
Handle personnel matters in consultation with Executive staff, including, but not limited to, grievances and employee disciplinary matters.
Support hiring efforts to attract talented staff who are committed to the mission and work of Maryland Legal Aid.
Assist the Chief with data collection, grant reporting and writing, and ensuring that administrative and regulatory requirements are met.
Fill in for the chief and assume their duties when they are absent from the office for an extended period and perform other managerial/supervisory duties not specifically listed above as determined from time to time by the chief.
Support local implementation of the Access to Counsel in Evictions efforts in Baltimore City.
Participate and lead client intake in person, online, by phone to screen clients for case acceptance and make referrals, as appropriate.
Attend client and community outreach initiatives.
Represent and defend clients in Baltimore City District and Circuit Court and the Federal Bankruptcy Court in landlord tenant and consumer law matters to include the following:
Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients.
Conduct factual investigation and analysis as well as legal research.
Advise clients of the results of investigation and research and counsel clients regarding their options.
Draft pleadings to include complaints, answers, memoranda of law, briefs, etc., as assigned by supervisors and chiefs.
Develop case theory and strategy for the representation of clients.
Prepare cases and represent clients during negotiations, hearings, trials, and appeals.
Maintain case records for clients in the Legal Server case management system.
Continue professional development and education through attendance at trainings and other programs sponsored by the MLA.
Support MLA’s strategic plan to all aspects of the office’s work, including litigation and advocacy, communications, and community education.
Represent MLA in inter-agency workgroups, task forces, and other ad hoc bodies.
Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.
Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland or admitted in another jurisdiction and eligible for admission in the State of Maryland. Out-of-State attorneys must be able and available to take the next scheduled bar exam following date of employment. Federally Barred Attorneys are desirable.
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
Five or more years of extensive experience in the areas of landlord-tenant, public and subsidized housing, and consumer law.
Knowledge of principles of civil law, judicial procedures, and rules of evidence.
Ability to use a computer, web-based applications, and computer programs such as Office 365, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Excellent research, critical thinking, writing, and communication skills.
Self-starter with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet regular deadlines in a fast-paced environment while balancing a full workload.
Ability to provide quality legal advocacy and representation for low-income, diverse client base.
Ability to travel locally and regionally in Maryland as needed.
Knowledge of Westlaw Edge or other legal research software is a plus.
Prior experience and/or interest in public-interest litigation or providing nonprofit legal services is a plus.
Please submit a resume, and cover letter describing your interest and qualifications with your online application.
References will be required at the time of the final interview.
No telephone calls, please. The position will remain open until filled.