Staff Attorney- Housing Consumer Unit, Full-time Temporary

The Housing/Consumer Law Unit of Maryland Legal Aid announces an immediate opening for a temporary full-time staff attorney for qualified applicants. Funding for this position is made available by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation beginning July 1, 2018 and continuing through June 30, 2019. This multi-year project is designed to provide representation in judicial litigation for low-income Baltimore City renters and extended legal service in their communities.

Duties and Responsibilities: Handle all functions related to case work from initial consultation through representation of clients before the court. Identify the legal problem, research defenses to allegations, gather facts to apply to the legal argument and present cases to the court that will obtain successful outcomes to maintain permanent housing. Included but not limited to litigating landlord/tenant issues in private and federally subsidized housing rent cases in the district court which may require only one or two court appearances in many cases, but more appearances in others, including rent escrow cases, motions to vacate judgment alleging: lack of service, rent disputes, housing subsidy issues; a need for a medical stay; to stay execution of the writ of possession and cancel the eviction, motions to dismiss for failure to comply with the filing requirements and negotiation. The position also includes working with various community groups and agencies and accepting speaking engagements as assigned by supervisor. The attorney will also develop a relationship with clients, identifying problems and causes that are barriers to the client’s ability to maintain a stable household. (i.e. finances, lack of a support system, poor health, mobility issues, improper medication, depression, mental health or substance abuse diseases; need of a caregiver, unscrupulous landlord practices, etc.) Provide the information needed to accurately refer clients to resources in the community and throughout Baltimore City, which will assist them in not simply managing their housing, but establishing plans for permanent housing. The attorney will identify and compile a directory of permanent wraparound services and resources and establish a relationship with community organizations; coordinate bi-monthly information sessions at neighborhood community organizations, to enhance the knowledge of the staff, and also to reach and teach tenants in the community, and stress the importance of always appearing before the court to contest no only summary ejection cases which result in default judgments, but any court cases. Staff attorneys will be expected to work with other attorneys, law graduates, legal assistants/ paralegals, social workers, and students on cases or projects and maintain case files in accordance with Maryland Legal Aid standards.