Position Summary:
The Staff Attorney, Housing Justice provides comprehensive legal services, direct representation, community engagement, and systemic advocacy to prevent displacement and preserve housing stability. This includes both tenant rights (evictions, unsafe housing, subsidy issues) and homeownership preservation (foreclosure, tangled title, and estate-related housing issues).
Role-Based Duties and Responsibilities:
Client-related
Handle all aspects of client representation, including, but not limited to:
Screening and interviewing walk-in and/or emergency clients
Conducting client interviews by telephone or in person to give legal opinion or recommend a case is accepted for further services
Filing necessary court documents timely
Analyzing facts to prepare appropriate case strategies
Preparing for all court appearances
Assessing holistic legal needs of clients and make referrals internally and externally
Providing technical assistance to staff and volunteer attorneys
Retrieving, transcribing, and performing prescreen data entry in the case management system as needed
Preparing and mailing retainers and letters
Drafting court documents
Communicating with clients or third parties via telephone, email, text message or other by other means
Preparing case files for hearing/trial
Maintaining case files and case management database
Conducting home visits to frail or homebound clients
Handling other case or client related tasks as necessary
Utilize Language line or other interpretation services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) older adults.
Provide information and referrals to older tenants, linking them to other resources and supportive services, including emergency financial assistance, support groups, health services, and other resources.
Community Outreach and Education
Represent SeniorLAW Center at professional committees/coalitions related to housing to advocate for better services and access to justice for older tenants and homeowners
Develop and present legal education workshops
Aid in the development of educational materials and resources for older tenants, homeowners and “best practices” resources for professionals.
Aid in planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and tabling events
Assist with community clinics focused on housing related issues
Coordinate with Project Director to update website, E-News, and other communication tools with project related information.
Additional Responsibilities:
Participate in scheduled project-related
Participate in staff and Legal team meetings
Provide support to other colleagues agency wide as needed
Assist with on-boarding staff as needed
Become knowledgeable of and follow all SeniorLAW Center’s personnel and legal policies and procedures
Demonstrate and model commitment to SeniorLAW Center’s mission and values
Participate in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy and events to support the organization
Assist with quality control and case management data collection and reporting, as necessary.
Other responsibilities to further mission of the project and organization
Project-Based Duties and Responsibilities:
Client-related
Provide civil legal assistance to older tenants and homeowners including, but not limited to:
Represent tenants in eviction, ejectment, and illegal lockout matters
Filing preliminary injunctions or other pleadings challenging illegal lockouts
Representation in administrative hearings for public or subsidized housing tenants
Represent tenants in complaints before the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission
Filing of and representing older tenants in other civil legal matters as assigned by Project Director
Homeownership Preservation
Represent homeowners in mortgage foreclosure diversion and litigation
Resolve tangled title issues through probate, estate administration, and deed preparation
Draft wills and planning documents to stabilize housing ownership
Provide advice and brief services on home-ownership-related legal issues
Provide advocacy and referrals to SeniorLAW Center clients with the primary focus on older tenants and homeowners
Assist with housing focused community clinics
Assist with housing focused client council
Other duties as identified by Project Director.
Systemic Advocacy
Identify systemic problems affecting older tenants and homeowners and work with our local, statewide, and national partners to develop creative solutions.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Required Education and Experience
Juris Doctor
Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing
Courtroom experience
Preferred Education and Experience
Experience in housing law (tenant or homeownership)
Experience with foreclosure, title, estate, or subsidy-related matters
Experience working with older adults or vulnerable populations
Second language proficiency
Core Competencies
Strong litigation, advocacy, and negotiation skills
Excellent writing, communication, and organizational abilities
Cultural competence and client-centered approach
Self-starter with flexibility and sound judgment
Ability to manage a diverse, high-volume caseload
Work Conditions
This job operates in a professional office environment
This role routinely uses standard office equipment
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
