Staff Attorney- Tenants' Right to Counsel Project

Position Description

MLA announces an immediate opening for a housing attorney working primarily under the Access to Counsel -Tenant Right to Counsel grant. The Housing and Consumer Law unit is located in Baltimore, MD. Staff attorneys will be expected to work with other attorneys, law graduates, law clerks, legal assistants, paralegals, social workers, and students on cases or projects. They must maintain all case files in accordance with MLA standards. The Baltimore City Housing and Consumer Law Unit handles the following types of housing and consumer cases: landlord/tenant cases involving private landlords and public and subsidized tenancies, Mortgage Foreclosure defense, breach of contract, repossessions, bankruptcy, tax sale defense, debt collection and student loan collection. A staff attorney in the Housing and Consumer Law Unit will need to litigate before all state courts and administrative bodies and the federal court. This position handles housing related legal matters including all functions related to casework, from initial intake through representation of clients in all relevant courts and proceedings.

Duties And Responsibilities

In addition, Housing and Consumer Law Attorneys throughout MLA meet regularly through the Housing Law Task Force and with other housing focused legal services organizations to learn and work on housing issues that affect low-income Marylanders. Tasks assigned to staff attorneys may include any or all of but are not necessarily limited to the following:

• Screen clients for case acceptance and make referrals, as appropriate.
• Represent and Defend clients in Baltimore City District and Circuit Court.
• Represent clients in Housing Law matters.
• Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients.
• Conduct factual investigation and analysis as well as legal research.
• Advise clients of 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 and in hearings, trials, and appeals
• Continue professional development and education through attendance at trainings and other programs sponsored by the MLA.
• Maintain case records for clients in the Legal Server case management system.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.