Description:
Movement Lawyering PracticeA Comprehensive Front Line Agency Serving the Poor of Washington, D.C., USA's Movement Lawyering Practice (MLP) is situated within our housing law practice. The MLP uses legal advocacy and organizing to help achieve solutions to community-identified issues in ways that develop local leadership and lasting institutions that can continue to exert power to effect systemic change. MLP does this work in collaboration with other legal services organizations and community groups. Our commitment is to leverage our legal skills and resources to support DC residents organizing with a long-term and transformative vision of social change.
Position Description:
The MLP supervising attorney helps to coordinate all the work of the MLP, including supervising the work of 2 staff attorneys and 1 paralegal. We seek candidates who have 5-7 years of post-JD experience and a demonstrated commitment to movement lawyering. In addition to responsibilities around training and mentoring of staff, supervising attorneys at A Comprehensive Front Line Agency Serving the Poor of Washington, D.C., USA represent clients and maintain a caseload. An important part of this position is also the development and maintenance of relationships with community partners. The Legal Clinic seeks to fill this position as soon as possible. The substantive work provided by MLP attorneys includes but is not limited to:
- Conducting “Know Your Rights” presentations for organized community groups;
- Listening to and mobilizing alongside local community organizing groups and coalitions to identify legal strategies to advance their organizing goals and providing ongoing support with those strategies. This could include legislative work, civil litigation, representation in administrative hearings, or ongoing advice to inform the group's assessment of the legal landscape affecting their strategy and goals;
- Ensuring equitable redevelopment of public housing properties by engaging with public housing residents and community partners organizing public housing residents;
- Participating in legislative and budget advocacy efforts around affordable housing issues; and
- Conducting legal intakes with individuals and providing individual representation in legal matters such as eviction litigation, agency hearings, or other proceedings.
Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria for eligibility to practice law in DC:
- Be admitted to the DC Bar; or
- (a) be eligible for admission to the DC Bar pursuant to DC Court of Appeals Rule 46(d) or Rule 46(e) and
(a) be eligible for admission to the DC Bar pursuant to DC Court of Appeals Rule 46(d), and
(b) meet the criteria for practice pursuant to DC Court of Appeals Rule 49(c)(9)(B), and
(c) have passed the bar examination in DC or a UBE jurisdiction;
- At least 5 years of post JD legal experience, including at least 3 years of litigation experience;
- Prior experience in organizing or movement lawyering;
- Experience working with (or knowledge of) federal housing programs and/or prior experience in housing law, preferably in DC;
- At least 1 year of supervisory experience;
- Prior experience in a legal services or other public interest setting;
- Ability to independently perform legal analysis and train staff attorneys in doing the same;
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and deadlines;
- Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written communication;
- Excellent negotiation skills;
- Experience facilitating meetings with diverse members; ability to resolve differences and drive a group towards a workable plan;
- Good judgment;
- High degree of flexibility and patience;
- Sense of humor, seriously;
- Ability to work with and lead other staff and interact with a wide variety of people, including volunteers, in a professional and collaborative manner;
- Demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice;
- Comfortable working both in-person in an open work environment, with no private offices for staff, and remotely from home;
- Familiarity with Google Organization & Productivity tools (Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar) and/or ability to learn new technology systems;
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) skills preferred but not required; and
- Must be fully vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19.
