Eviction Prevention Attorney (4 Positions)
Announcing 4 Attorney Positions Focused on Addressing Maine’s Housing Crisis:
Maine is in a housing crisis and you can help! As a result of several recent grants, Pine Tree Legal Assistance is hiring eviction prevention attorneys for our Presque Isle, Machias, Bangor and Augusta offices.
The Eviction Prevention Litigation attorneys will provide high-quality, low-barrier services to tenants with low incomes who are at risk of losing their housing. Each attorney will be based in one of the four offices. The attorneys will work closely with other staff in their local Pine Tree office, as well as engage with other staff statewide and Pine Tree’s Housing Practice Group. Personal time in the local office is expected. All attorneys may be asked to provide occasional coverage for eviction cases in other areas of Maine on an ‘as needed’ basis. Frequent travel related to work activities (including training) is required and some evening or weekend time may also be required to attend trainings, meetings, or outreach activities. The position will involve some client meetings at locations outside the office, as well as travel to other courts and offices of partner agencies as appropriate to provide low-barrier legal representation.
The attorneys will provide direct legal advocacy, ranging from legal advice and brief legal assistance to negotiations, mediation, and full legal representation of low-income tenant households facing eviction and potential homelessness. The attorney should expect to appear regularly in the Maine District as well as before various administrative agencies including housing authorities and other subsidized housing providers. Occasional practice before the Maine Superior and Supreme Judicial Court may be expected. The attorneys will also help tenants with applications for rental assistance or other resources via local community action agencies, municipalities, and state agencies. Additionally, the attorney will engage in outreach to educate tenants, advocates, providers and community partners on the many issues and resources that impact housing stability. The attorneys in this position should expect to be handle a high-volume litigation practice.
The attorneys must be admitted to the practice of law in Maine or be eligible to practice under MRCP 89 (c) while working at Pine Tree. Previous litigation experience is strongly preferred.
Each position may have other specific expectations or grant conditions. Please see below for the office where you may be interested in working.
Machias Eviction Prevention Litigation Attorney:
This is an exciting opportunity to have an immediate and profound impact on housing in rural Maine, including for Maine’s indigenous peoples, by working on eviction defense in our Machias Office with a focus on Hancock County, and the Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribal courts. The attorney will be expected to maintain office hours at least two days a week.
This position is funded by a grant through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This position is currently funded through July 2024 under a contract with HUD.
Interested applicants for this position should submit a letter of interest, a current resume and 3 professional references to Managing Attorney Nicole Golden Bouchard (ngolden-bouchard@ptla.org), with copies to Deputy Executive Director, Chet Randall (crandall@ptla.org), and Executive Assistant, Elizabeth Johnson (ejohnson@ptla.org).
Presque Isle Eviction Prevention Litigation Attorney:
The attorney in the Presque Isle office will serve rural communities in Maine’s northernmost county. Practice in Aroostook County will include appearances in the Caribou, Madawaska, Fort Kent, Presque Isle, and Houlton District Courts.
Like the Machias position, the Presque Isle position is currently funded by HUD through July 2024.
Interested applicants for this position should submit a letter of interest, a current resume and 3 professional references to Managing Attorney Lisa Chase (lchase@ptla.org), with copies to Deputy Executive Director, Chet Randall (crandall@ptla.org), and Executive Assistant, Elizabeth Johnson (ejohnson@ptla.org).
Bangor Eviction Prevention Litigation Attorney:
The attorney based in the Bangor office will focus on eviction prevention for clients in rural Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Waldo Counties.
Similar to the Presque Isle and Machias positions, this position is currently funded by HUD through July 2024.
Interested applicants for this position should submit a letter of interest, a current resume and 3 professional references to Managing Attorney Erica Veazey (eveazey@ptla.org), with copies to Deputy Executive Director, Chet Randall (crandall@ptla.org), and Executive Assistant, Elizabeth Johnson (ejohnson@ptla.org).
Augusta Eviction Prevention Litigation Attorney:
The Augusta Eviction Prevention Litigation Attorney will help address the housing crisis in Central Maine by focusing on eviction defense in our Augusta Office service area which includes Kennebec, Somerset, Knox and Lincoln Counties.
This position is funded by a grant from MaineHousing. The position is currently funded through the end of 2022. The grant is expected to be renewed for one year.
Interested applicants for this position should submit a letter of interest, a current resume and 3 professional references to Managing Attorney Katy Childs (kchilds@ptla.org), with copies to Deputy Executive Director, Chet Randall (crandall@ptla.org), and Executive Assistant, Elizabeth Johnson (ejohnson@ptla.org).