Staff Attorney - Housing Justice

Position Description 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.