Employment Opportunities at WLCH
Staff Attorney - Affordable
Housing Initiative
Administrative Assistant
Staff Attorney - Affordable
Housing Initiative
The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
seeks to hire a full-time staff attorney for our Affordable Housing
Initiative. Since 2002, our AHI has focused on improving the quality,
and preserving and expanding the supply, of affordable and subsidized
housing opportunities for the District of Columbia's lowest income residents.
AHI is the vehicle through which we provide legal assistance to low-income
tenants and tenant associations in DC in order to stabilize properties
and tenancies that are threatened, or "at-risk," of losing
their affordability through loss of subsidy, sale, condo conversion,
etc. AHI is the "first line of defense," providing the litigation
and other representation necessary to position a property for preservation
and/or tenant purchase as truly affordable housing for its current residents.
AHI supports tenant organizers and helps to assemble a development team,
including development counsel, to take the property through the next
steps in preservation. AHI is committed to educating tenants about
their rights and bringing the needs -- and voices -- of low-income renters
into the policy debates that impact their lives. AHI has been
actively involved in advocating for stronger laws, enhanced funding
and effective programs that promote affordable housing for the lowest
income District residents.
Responsibilities include individual representation as well as policy
advocacy, including:
- Representing tenants and tenant
associations in Landlord-Tenant, Superior or federal court or in administrative
proceedings;
- Securing and collaborating
with pro bono counsel;
- Conducting "tenants rights"
workshops;
- Testifying at public hearings
and supporting clients in preparing and delivering testimony;
- Collaborating with other legal
service housing attorneys on legislative, regulatory, budget and other
policy matters;
- Participating in meetings
with government agency officials;
To meet the needs of our clients,
our attorneys often work outside of normal business hours. WLCH
has a flex-time policy that attorneys may utilize to adjust the hours
of work during the normal business day when early morning, evening,
or weekend work is required.
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated commitment to
working with people living in poverty;
- Minimum two years litigation
experience, preferably in housing law. One year (two full
semesters) of clinical litigation experience as a law student will be
considered equivalent to one year of litigation practice;
- Strong writing ability;
- Experience working with community
organizers or grass roots organizations;
- DC Bar membership or member
of the bar in another jurisdiction with the demonstrated ability to
waive into DC.
Experience in Landlord-Tenant Court and
fluency in Spanish are a plus. The successful candidate will be
comfortable working in a small, non-profit environment, both independently
and as part of a team.
Salary: DOE with excellent
benefits. Applicant may be eligible for the DC's loan repayment
assistance program.
To apply:
please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample and the names and
contact information of three references. We are looking for thoughtful,
personalized cover letters that demonstrate the applicants' qualifications
and work style and interest in being part a team working to ensure a
just and inclusive community. Email materials to job@legalclinic.org and note "Housing Attorney" in the
subject line, or mail to WLCH, 1200 U Street, NW, 3rd
Floor, Washington, DC 20009. Applications will be accepted
until the position is filled.
WLCH supports diversity in staffing. People of color and individuals
from other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Administrative Assistant
Our
administrative assistants are the professional and capable face of
the Legal Clinic for both the clients and the staff. We expect them
to play a key role in maintaining order and organization in our fast
paced public interest law office.
SPECIFIC
ACTIVITIES
The
administrative assistant is responsible for providing administrative
support for Legal Clinic staff through a variety of important and
critical front-line and behind-the-scenes duties, including:
RESPONSIBILITIES
*
Answering
phone and general reception duties
*
Retrieving phone messages and forwarding to appropriate staff person
and/or volunteers
*
Providing callers with basic information about Legal Clinic and
location of intake sites
*
Making referrals when legal assistance is not necessary or request is
beyond scope of Legal Clinic
*
Providing staff support, such as: word processing, copying, faxing,
follow-up calls, calling messengers, assisting with mailings
*
Providing support in preparation for meetings including scheduling
meeting rooms and conference calls and preparing materials as needed
*
Creating flyers, brochures, other informational materials
*
Can serve as relief in the absence of our other administrative
assistant
*
File and database management
*
Other duties as assigned.
SKILLS
& EXPERIENCE
*
Education: BA or BS preferred
*
Fluency in Spanish is a plus
*
Proven administrative experience
in a legal, advocacy and/or service environment.
*
Facility with computer and internet technology. Highly proficient
with Microsoft Office for Windows (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint,
etc.) as well as and internet navigation.
*
Experience and comfort with database entry and reporting
REQUIREMENTS
*
Sensitivity to the problems that people who are poor and/or homeless
may face
*
Commitment to excellence
*
Punctuality
*
Excellent oral and written communication skills
*
Excellent
administrative and organizational skills ~ detail oriented and able
to produce work with high degree of accuracy.
*
Initiative with ability to see and troubleshoot administrative
problems and challenges
*
Positive, flexible, assured, "can-do" attitude and ability
to remain calm and patient demeanor
*
Aptitude to work well under pressure, meet frequent deadlines and
maintain confidentiality
*
Ability to set priorities and handle multiple tasks.
*
A team player with a strong sense of self-motivation with flexibility
and good judgment
*
Sense of humor necessary
The
Administrative Assistant is expected to work a typical work week of
9-5:30 plus occasional additional hours as necessary to complete
projects.
Please send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references.
We are looking for thoughtful, personalized cover letters that demonstrate the applicants' qualifications and work style and interest in being part of a team working to ensure a just and inclusive community.
Email materials to job@legalclinic.org (please specify Administrative Assistant in the subject line) or mail your application to WLCH, 1200 U Street, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20009.
Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.
WLCH supports diversity in staffing. People of color, people with disabilities, and individuals from other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Posted:
7/2/07 and accepting resumes until the position is filled
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