Staff Attorney - Tenant Right to Counsel Project

Staff Attorney - Tenant Right to Counsel Project

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change.

MLA is committed to ensuring legal representation for all Marylanders facing eviction or forced displacement. The Tenant Right to Counsel Project (TRCP) seeks to hire a Staff Attorney in the Baltimore County office, located in Towson, MD, for admitted attorneys, recent bar-exam takers, or law school graduates who are passionate about public interest law and social justice.

Housing insecurity was endemic in Maryland even before the massive economic and social disruptions that marked the COVID-19 pandemic. As the uneven economic recovery disparately impacts the communities MLA represents, our legal services are as critical now as ever to preventing evictions, fighting unfair rental practices, and preserving affordable housing.

Job Summary

TRCP staff attorneys work at the front line of Maryland's housing justice movement as we serve renters at court on their day of trial and engage them through grassroots outreach. TRCP is building a committed, collegial, and hard-working team to lead multi-faceted advocacy focused on trial representation, appeals, community outreach, and policy work.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Handle a full caseload of full representation and same-day representation in court proceedings for Failure to Pay Rent, Tenant Holding Over, and Breach of Lease eviction cases.
• Advocate before administrative agencies, including local housing authorities and the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
• Participate in client intake in person, by phone, and at community outreach initiatives.
• Maintain case records for clients in the LegalServer case management system.
• Continue professional development and education through participation in trainings and other programs sponsored by Maryland Legal Aid.
• Assist with broader advocacy efforts, as needed, including through policy advocacy, print media, broadcast media, social media, public speaking, and participation in coalitions and strategic partnerships.

Qualifications

Work Environment

Work duties are typically performed in a general office setting, with regular interaction via telephone, videoconference, instant messaging, and email, in person and in a courtroom.

Benefits

The current salary range for the staff attorney position is $76,812 - $118,565. Staff attorneys will be paid according to the MLA's Workers Union's current salary scale, which is subject to annual revision through collective bargaining negotiations.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Maryland Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

J-18808-Ljbffr