Overview

Neighborhood Defender Service of Texas (NDS) has a legal services office providing free, community-based, client-centered, holistic housing defense representation to low-income residents of Harris County. NDS clients are represented by multidisciplinary teams including attorneys, advocates, and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs.

The Harris County Eviction Defense Team plays an integral role in NDS’s fulfillment of its holistic mission and in realizing the right to counsel in housing proceedings. The practice is part of the monumental movement toward a civil Gideon, providing assigned counsel representation to low- and no-income tenants facing a wide range of eviction proceedings in order to safeguard the right to secure, stable housing and combat the destabilization and disintegration of Harris County’s diverse communities. The Staff Attorney is responsible for providing client-centered representation to the clients of the Housing Defense Practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent, client-centered representation to individual tenants in Housing Court; proceedings including non-payments, holdovers, and HP actions from intake through case resolution.
• Conduct client intake and screen for representation.
• Regular appearance in Housing Court to conduct routine appearances, argue motions, and engage in trial practice and other litigation.
• Advocate for clients to access and obtain benefits, subsidies, and other services to resolve Housing Court proceedings.
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to secure the best outcomes for clients.
• Demonstrate energy, enthusiasm, and ingenuity in working on challenging cases as assigned by supervisors.
• Represent NDS at Coalition meetings and community-based initiatives on housing issues on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications

• J.D. Degree and admission to practice law in Texas.
• Experience providing housing defense representation to low-income clients is preferred; preference given to applicants who have at least two years of experience in legal services.
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage a diverse caseload.
• Must be able to travel throughout Harris County to the various courts, administrative agencies and to client appointments.
• Must be able to work cooperatively with attorneys and other NDS advocates, and problem-solve independently.
• Fluency in Spanish is preferred but not required.

 Compensation: Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Exceptional benefits package includes full medical and dental for employee and family, retirement, life and AD&D insurance, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time.

The salary, benefits, and employment policies relevant to this position are governed by the CBA between NDS and the NDS Union, part of ALAA UAW 2325.

How to Apply:

Interviews are held on a rolling basis, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants should apply through the career portal at www.neighborhooddefender.org/jobs/list with a cover letter and resume.

For more information about NDS, please visit our website at www.neighborhooddefender.org.

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the communities we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people to apply. At NDS we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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