The Pro Bono Support Attorney (Housing) oversees the screening, placement, and mentoring of full representation pro bono housing cases placed through the Advocacy & Justice Clinic and serves as a primary supervisor for the Landlord Tenant Resource Center (LTRC). The Attorney provides limited scope services, as needed, to bridge the gap between referral and permanent placement with a pro bono attorney. The attorney will support and staff other projects that deliver legal information, advice, and representation, including, but not limited to the Advice & Referral Clinic.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

•Supports the Advocacy & Justice Clinic by reviewing housing intakes, placing housing cases with pro bono counsel, mentoring pro bono attorneys, tracking cases, and providing limited representation to clients, as needed. 

•Recruits and mobilizes pro bono attorneys to represent tenants facing eviction and other housing issues in the District of Columbia.

•Delivers training and develops other resource materials.

•Works with housing staff, development staff, and others in drafting and reviewing housing grant proposals and maintaining grant compliance. 

•Provides direct support to the Landlord Tenant Resource Center and works as part of the team to plan and administer the Advice & Referral Clinic, including:

oProviding on-site supervision and substantive support to volunteers and Pro Bono Center Program Specialists.

oOverseeing administration and operation of pro bono clinic programs.

oFormulating scope of legal problems to be covered.

oPlanning and directing volunteer trainings, preparing training materials, and recruiting trainers.

oScreening and selecting cases for placement with pro bono attorneys.

oRecruiting mentors and serving as primary mentor for volunteer attorneys.

oMonitoring volunteer caseloads and developing periodic progress reports. 

oEvaluating effectiveness and continued relevance of each delivery model.

oServing as counsel in landlord & tenant and housing conditions matters, as needed. 

•Plans and administers pro se assistance activities, including developing pro se reference materials and pleadings, using technology to deliver services, and serving as a resource on issues related to other delivery models.

•Identifies emerging issues, develops recommendations, and designs and implements new programs and projects. 

•Oversees the work of volunteers, paralegals, law students and interns.

•Represents the PBC with the court, administrative agencies, other legal services providers, and community-based organizations.

•Assists in drafting and developing proposals, budgets, and other fundraising and outreach materials. Drafts reports, articles, memoranda, publications and resource materials.

•Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school.

•Prior professional work experience, including experience handling housing matters in the District of Columbia.

•An active member of the D.C. Bar or eligible to become an active D.C. Bar member within two months of being hired.

•Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working environment.

•Ability to work some evenings and weekends, as needed, for a variety of Pro Bono Center clinics and events.

•Excellent oral and written communication skills.

•Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Must work well in a team environment and be able to interact well with Bar members, volunteers, vendors, the public, and Pro Bono Center Bar employees.

•Must be detail oriented, work well under pressure, possess excellent organizational abilities, and able to manage several priorities in a day.

•Must be adaptable, creative, and self-motivated.

•Ability to handle and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS 

•Experience working with volunteers.

•Experience with a legal services organization that provides legal services to under resourced individuals.

•Proficiency in Spanish or Amharic, preferred, but not required.

****Please submit resume, cover letter and two (2) writing samples****

This position is currently a hybrid position, with days worked in the office and days worked remotely. The hybrid status of this position may change at any time subject to the Bar’s discretion.

This is not an attempt to list all essential functions of this position. Job duties may change over time based on organizational/department needs. 

The D.C. Bar is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

The Bar is committed to providing qualified individuals with reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their jobs, pursuant to applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at HR@ dcbar.org.

As part of the accommodation process, we will conduct an individualized interactive process and may ask you for additional information. Additionally, any final hiring decisions or start dates may be delayed while the accommodation review process is ongoing if the individual is unable to begin work without the requested accommodation.