Senior Attorney Position - Homeless Persons Representation Project
Position Announcement: Senior Attorney – Housing Justice Homeless Persons Representation Project Baltimore, MD (Hybrid)
Who We Are: Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) advances housing justice and works to end homelessness in Maryland by providing outreach, education, and free civil legal services to the unhoused or unstably housed and engaging in broader advocacy to address systemic problems. HPRP collaborates with persons with lived experience of homelessness in recognition that people have the power and expertise to determine solutions to systemic issues affecting their lives.
The Senior Attorney Position: HPRP's housing practice embraces the value of housing as a human right and seeks to ensure justice for and with persons whose housing rights have been compromised. This position will focus on providing direct service to clients facing eviction or termination of their housing subsidy. The Senior Attorney will:
Handle individual cases focused on eviction defense of tenants in subsidized housing and subsidy terminations.
Responsible for all phases of litigation, including case investigation and development, pleadings and motions,
discovery, trial, post-judgment motions, and appeals.
Provide legal representation at one or more Rent Court Dockets in Baltimore City District Court per week.
Create client and community education materials; conduct regular outreach to identify clients in need of legal
services; and conduct know your rights presentations on housing law.
Minimum Qualifications:
J.D. from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in Maryland or licensed in another state and eligible for admission to the Maryland bar
Five years of legal experience, including experience with housing law
Experience advocating for people facing economic insecurity or homelessness.
What You Bring:
Demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice, and personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences
Excellent analytical and writing skills
Strong organizational skills and ability to set priorities and handle multiple tasks
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
Experience working on legislative advocacy and policy initiatives is a plus
Salary and Benefits:
The minimum starting salary for this position is $69,000. The salary range is dependent on relevant second language fluency and other relevant lived experience.
HPRP has a 35-hour workweek and flexible scheduling when not required to appear in court or other program locations.
HPRP offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including full health coverage (medical, prescription, dental) for the employee plus a contribution toward family coverage; short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; HPRP's 403(b) plan (employer supplemental salary contribution determined annually); vacation (20 days); sick leave (10 days); personal days (3 days); and holidays.
To Apply: Interested candidates should send 1) a cover letter describing interest and qualifications for the position, 2) a resume, 3) a short writing sample (no more than five pages), and 4) the names and contact information for three professional references. These items should be sent (preferably as PDF attachments) to jobs@hprplaw.org Attn: Carolyn Johnson – Managing Attorney. The subject line should specify "Senior Attorney - Housing Justice."
Vaccination Requirement: All HPRP staff members must stay up to date on their COVID vaccinations, including receiving additional booster doses that currently are or may subsequently be recommended by the CDC. Vaccine exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis on religious grounds and in accordance with the reasonable accommodations guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
HPRP is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We believe that having a staff, board, and volunteers with diverse personal and professional backgrounds and lived experience enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all community members can thrive. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from Black people, Indigenous peoples, people of color, immigrants, persons with disabilities, members of the TLGBQIA+ (Trans, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more) community, people with lived experience of poverty or homelessness, and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.