Summer Associate Program: Housing Litigation

Project description:

The Housing Litigation summer associate will support the Homeownership and Tenant Assistance Projects:

The Homeownership Project supports Community Legal Aid's mission by ensuring low-income homeowners have safe, stable, and affordable places to live. Project staff work directly with homeowners facing foreclosure to save their home, improve their financial situation, and assert their rights in foreclosure proceedings.

The Tenant Assistance Project supports Community Legal Aid's mission by ensuring low-income renters have safe, stable, and affordable places to live. Project staff work directly with renters to maintain their home, improve their living conditions, and assert their rights in eviction proceedings. The project’s primary focus in 2023 is protecting tenants impacted by COVID-19 from eviction through representation and community collaboration regarding rental assistance funds. Project staff also are working on structural advocacy around right-to-counsel in eviction cases and sealing of past eviction cases.

Activities for the role:

The Housing Litigation summer associate will work closely with an attorney with an ongoing caseload and will gain valuable, real-world litigation experience while helping to develop systemic impact litigation and projects. The summer associate will support the project and can expect to engage in the following activities:

Conduct client interviews with tenants and homeowners seeking legal assistance with eviction and foreclosure
Work with clients and attorneys in preparation for court hearings
Conduct factual and legal investigations including requesting and reviewing court documents, medical records, and public records
Work with attorneys at hearings, trials, and outreach events
Draft pleadings, research memoranda, correspondence
Other duties as assigned

Preferred qualifications:

The strongest candidates will have the following qualifications:

Vested interest in the current immigration crisis and helping refugees find security in their health, safety, and in making a living
Strong research/writing background
Strong interest for students with their Intern Certificate
Strong research/writing skills
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and legal and internet research tools
Ability to speak a foreign language is highly desirable

Personal attributes:

Successful candidates will possess the following characteristics:

Excellent interpersonal skills
First-rate oral and written communications skills
Ability to relate to and work with both professionals and residents of a community with one of the highest poverty rates in the country
Strong analytical and organizational skills
High dependability