Staff Attorney for Housing Justice Fellowship

Staff Attorney for Housing Justice Fellowship

Shore Legal Access (SLA) is a Maryland nonprofit connecting Eastern Shore individuals and families in need of legal representation with volunteer attorneys to ensure that justice truly is for all. Shore Legal Access makes the law accessible to Eastern Shore residents facing challenges in civil legal matters, including family law, life and estate planning, consumer debt, landlord/tenant matters, and criminal record expungement. Its staff and volunteer attorneys empower individuals and families to resolve legal issues while helping those new to the law understand their role in advocating for their individual rights and responsibilities. Clients of Shore Legal Access walk away with an attorney in their corner, connections to community services, and a new perspective on the law.

Job Summary:

SLA seeks an energetic and compassionate attorney to provide direct legal assistance for housing matters including counseling, advice, document preparation, negotiation, and representation in judicial litigation. The Staff Attorney will provide same day representation for tenants in court proceedings including failure to pay rent, tenant holding over, breach of lease, and related landlord/tenant matters. The Staff Attorney will generate and cultivate partnerships with other civil legal services providers and community resources and work proactively to build community education and understanding about legal rights related to housing stability. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to public service, a compassionate approach to working with clients and the public, excellent ability to collaborate with staff and community partners, and strong cultural competency such as diverse economic, social and cultural experiences. Fluency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole is a plus.

The position will be based in Salisbury, Maryland and will serve all counties on the Eastern Shore. (Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester). SLA is a provider of tenant counsel in the Access to Counsel in Evictions (ACE) program and this position will play a vital role in helping to expand tenant counsel throughout the Eastern Shore. Salary: $70,000 annually, fellowship ends December 31, 2026, generous benefits package including excellent vacation and sick leave, individual health care, vision, flexible spending account, dental, and matching funds towards 403(b) retirement savings plan. SLA supports a family friendly, inclusive, collaborative work environment with options for hybrid and flexible work schedules. Opportunities for professional development and cross training.

Job Responsibilities

• Providing direct legal representation for civil legal issues that arise from housing instability for low-income households, especially in eviction cases. Services will primarily be same-day representation for weekly rent court dockets in multiple jurisdictions. This is an outstanding opportunity to gain a lot of court experience. SLA is a provider of tenant counsel in the Access to Counsel in Evictions (ACE) program and this position will play a vital role in helping to expand ACE throughout the Eastern Shore. The attorney will manage a full case load of eviction prevention cases including failure to pay rent, tenant holding over, breach of lease, and related landlord/tenant matters. The Staff Attorney will serve all counties, but particularly the Lower Shore (Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset Counties).
• Keeping up to date records of case status in SLA's case management system (Legal-Trak), tracking cases, and working collaboratively with the SLA's Case Managers, Legal Director, and Supervising Attorney to coordinate case management, tracking, and reporting.
• Building key stakeholder relationships in furtherance of the Fellowship objectives; creating, fostering, and cultivating partnerships among legal services providers, tenant associations, community social services providers, and other community-based entities.
• Strategizing, planning and conducting training and outreach to communities and community organizations in furtherance of housing stability and affordability for low-income community members; engaging in peer-to-peer learning with other Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Program Fellows.
• Actively contributing to and participating in Housing Justice Program cohort activities (resource exchanges; mandatory webinars and conference calls; and training events, including Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training in fall 2024 and 2025).
• Exercising leadership competencies as an Equal Justice Works Fellow.
• Contributing to SLA's culture of ethical storytelling to amplify the impact of eviction prevention cases on people and communities.
• Assisting in the management and supervision of interns and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland or admitted in another jurisdiction and eligible for admission in the State of Maryland. Will consider applicants who took the February 2025 bar and are still waiting for the results.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and public interest work, such as internships, law school clinic, externship, summer, or other relevant practice experience.
• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Strong oral and negotiation skills, and the ability to work as a team member.
• Prior experience in managing independent projects or assignments.
• Experience with delivering training and presentations a plus.
• Knowledge of housing benefits law and/or experience with housing and benefits agencies.
• An ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary setting to facilitate a coordinated community response and provide holistic services to clients.
• Prior experience in the legal areas of landlord/tenant, foreclosure, consumer debt, bankruptcy, and/or expungements are preferred but not required.
• Selected candidate must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated (including boosters) by first day of employment with SLA.
• Fellows are expected to fulfill the complete duration of the two-year Fellowship and will be required to sign a Fellowship Agreement with Equal Justice Works.

About the Equal Justice Works Fellowship:

Shore Legal Access has been selected by Equal Justice Works as an implementing partner of Equal Justice Works' Housing Justice Program. Equal Justice Works is the nation's largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. The Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Program is a program comprised of Attorney Fellows and Organizer Fellows who, over the course of a two-year fellowship term, will be part of a targeted initiative to address the justice gap in the Maryland through responsive, context-specific innovations and interventions focused on housing justice. Specifically, Attorney Fellows and Organizer Fellows will serve at one of the participating community-based and/or legal services organizations, and work as a unified front to fight a variety of injustices related to housing instability and involuntary displacement in Maryland, particularly due to eviction.

An Equal Justice Works Fellowship is an opportunity to transform your passion for equal justice into a career. As a Housing Justice Program Fellow, you will be part of a prestigious program that, since its inception in 2019 in Virginia, has successfully improved housing stability in served communities by preventing more than 4,000 tenants from being evicted and conducting education and outreach efforts for more than 40,000 people. Most critically, former Fellows of the Housing Justice Program helped generate momentum for tenants to have the right to be represented by counsel in housing cases – a legal right to counsel – something that seemed inconceivable in Virginia just two years ago. Building on the success of Fellows in Virginia, Equal Justice Works is expanding the Housing Justice Program to Maryland.

As a Fellow, you will develop experience and skills to be a leader in social justice while promoting tenant protections and working directly with households experiencing housing instability. As a cohort, Fellows are expected to actively participate in peer-to-peer learning and required training delivered by Equal Justice Works and training partners throughout the year. In addition, Fellows will attend Equal Justice Works' Leadership Development Training.

How to Apply

To apply, fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION and e-mail your letter of interest, resume, and certificate of good standing from the Maryland Court of Appeals to Cheryl Lee, Administrative Director: clee@shorelegal.org

Application Deadline: Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Are you worried that you don't have every qualification listed? Please still apply If something about this opportunity speaks to your heart, we encourage you to still consider applying.

Shore Legal Access is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. We value diversity and recognize that it enriches our organization, strengthens our services, and enhances our impact. Shore Legal Access works to acknowledge and honor individual differences by fostering a culture of dignity, respect, and belonging for all service recipients, staff, volunteers, and leaders. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. SLA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity, age, religion, disability status, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, or immigration status.

CORE VALUESIntegrityService OrientedCompassionProfessionalismRespectDignityInclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Access Goal

Shore Legal Access seeks to acknowledge and honor individual differences by fostering a culture of dignity, respect, and belonging for all service recipients, staff, volunteers, and leaders.

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