Housing Attorney (2-year Grant Funded)

Organization Overview:

Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorados statewide nonprofit legal aid program with thirteen offices providing civil legal assistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas including family law public benefits eviction defense consumer protection services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking and many others.

CLS has strengthened lives assisted families and supported communitiesone person at a time for over 100 years. We are committed to providing high-quality free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive transformational change in the lives of those we serve.

At CLS we value representation. We value and respect our staffs wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We ensure representation of our client communities in our staff Board of Directors and leadership teams. We also envision a fair just trusted and harm reductionist legal system which emphasizes access to and implementation of true justice for every Coloradan.

Position Summary:

CLS is excited to hire a new 2-year grant funded staff to join the Denver Housing Unit (DHU) and to work as a legal advocate for tenants at risk of or facing eviction with the Arapahoe Clinic. DHU provides a range of eviction prevention services from giving brief legal advice and information limited assistance to full representation in court. DHU operates eviction prevention clinics to advise educate prepare answers for tenants facing eviction and evaluate cases for full representation. Our staff attorneys are on the front line in defending tenants to prevent eviction and homelessness and because of their vulnerability we prioritize assisting tenants living in federally subsidized housing.

DHU is made up of nearly 20 professionals who are committed to staff mindfulness and work/life balance. We take active efforts to ensure that staff caseloads are properly managed. Our new team member will primarily work with the Arapahoe Clinic in Arapahoe County. While the position is funded for two years there is the possibility of it being extended.

Essential Duties:

• Deliver exceptional legal counsel and advocacy thatalignwith programobjectivesand meets the standards set forth by CLSCasehandlerguidelines.
• Engage and collaborate with a highly motivated and enthusiastic team of over twenty dedicated professionals committed to preventing houselessness.
• Display patience empathy and sound judgment for clients including those with diverse backgrounds disabilities and mental health challenges while providing clear transparent communication and managing their expectations effectively.
  
• Interview clients and witnesses investigate facts to build client defenses and case strategy engage in motions practice and negotiations and represent tenants at court and administrative hearings.
  
• Maintain comprehensive and current documentation of client case notes in case management system.
  
• Aid tenants at courthouse clinics providing information and advice while quickly assessing their legalmatterto draft pleadings.
• Research complex housing issues involving both state and federal laws with eye towards looking for systemic ways to address houselessness.
  
• Work collaboratively with partner organizations including agencies who offer rentalassistance.

Desired Qualifications:

We are looking to hire an attorney who has most if not all of the following:

• Excellent written verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
  
• Commitment to direct tenant advocate services.
  
• Ability to work at a quick pace and balance different tasks and responsibilities at the same time.
• Experiencerepresentingclients in the court or administrative process.
• Comfortable making arguments in front of a judge or administrative body.
• Experience or knowledge of housing law especially subsidized housing requirements.
• Experience working with clients in a vulnerable living in poverty those combatting mental illness.

Furtherwhile we will absolutely consider applicants who are not bilingualwe would lovetoaddanother bilingual Spanish speakertoourteamas many of our clients speak Spanish. Allcandidates must havevalidlicense to practice law in Coloradoat the time of hireorabilityto obtain a Colorado licensewithin a few months andbe willing to work in Arapahoe County.

How to Apply:
To apply please use the Apply for This Job link on ourcareers pageand submit your resume cover letter and legal writing sample no later than Monday February 2. In your cover letter pleaseindicateanyexperienceyou have withhousinglaw litigation working with vulnerable populations and/ out to Karen Vilner our Director of People & Culture atif you have any questions about the position.

Compensation and Benefits:

We offer a generous plan that includes 100% employer paid premiums for employee health dental vision life and long-term disability insurance as well as partial employer paid premiums for spouses/dependents based on a sliding scale. We also offer Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). CLS contributes $200/month to each employees 403(b) retirement account and matches 100% of employee contributions up to 3% of employee salary; vesting occurs gradually will full vesting after 3 years of employment. Additionally CLS offers generous paid time-off and 13 paid holidays per year.

CLS values its employees commitment to working hard for the population it serves and recognizes the importance of work/life promote and foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically safe work environment striving to be a Best Place to Work in Colorado.

Required Experience:

IC