Staff Attorney, Tenant Rights

Position Summary:

The Staff Attorney, Tenant Rights provides direct legal services to and engages in education and advocacy on behalf of older tenants who are facing housing instability or homelessness.  

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

• Handle case-related tasks including but not limited to:
  • 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 landlord-tenant issues to advocate for better services and access to justice for older tenants.
• Develop and present legal education workshops to older tenants.
• Aid in the development of educational materials and resources for older tenants and “best practices” resources for professionals.
• Aid in planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and tabling events.
• Assist with community clinics focused on older tenants.
• Coordinate with Project Director to update website, E-News, and other communication tools with project related information.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in scheduled project related meetings.
• 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, including, but not limited to:
• representing tenants in eviction and ejectment matters
• filing preliminary injunctions or other pleadings challenging illegal lock outs
• representation in administrative hearings for public or subsidized housing tenants
• representing tenant in complaints before the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission
• filing of and representing older tenants in other civil legal matters as assigned by Project Director.

• Provide advocacy and referrals to SeniorLAW Center clients with the primary focus on older tenants.
• Assist with tenant focused community clinics
• Assist with tenant focused client council
• Other duties as identified by Project Director.

Systemic Advocacy

• Identify systemic problems affecting older tenants 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.

Required Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor
• Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing
• Courtroom experience

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience with older tenants
• Second language proficiency preferred

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors:

• Must be a motivated self-starter
• Must possess high quality advocacy and negotiating skills
• Highly professional, organized, energetic, flexible, and culturally sensitive
• Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Interest and ability to work with older people and persons of different backgrounds

Work Conditions:

• This job operates in a professional office environment.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

This is a full-time exempt hybrid position based in Philadelphia. Excellent benefits, including fully paid health and dental for employee, long- and short-term disability, 401k, flexible spending plan, and generous holidays and leave time, with a value of over $20,000. Salary range is commensurate with years of experience and SeniorLAW Center’s salary structure: starting salary $66,000.  

SeniorLAW Center is an equal opportunity employer, which values and seeks diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. Persons from diverse backgrounds and orientations are encouraged to apply

Salary : $20,000 - $66,000