Senior Staff Attorney/Staff Attorney, Housing Rights
SUMMARY
NHLP seeks a Senior Staff Attorney or Staff Attorney to help support our housing justice work to remove barriers for rental applicants, increase tenant rights, and prevent evictions.
This work includes policy advocacy to the federal government to adopt, implement and enforce policies that increase access to housing and protect tenants from discrimination and retaliation.
This advocacy is often targeted to agencies that administer the federal housing programs (HUD, USDA, Treasury), agencies whose mandates impact tenants (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Housing Finance Agency), and members of Congress. In carrying out this work, we collaborate with and provide legal and policy support to national campaigns to push for federal policy changes.
This work also includes support to advocates working to create and strengthen state and local tenant protections. NHLP works closely with many of the 2,000 members of its Housing Justice Network to effect changes aimed at increasing tenant power at the state and local level using a variety of methods, including policy advocacy, litigation, training, and technical assistance related to various federal housing programs, civil rights and fair housing matters, and eviction prevention. This is a dynamic position that will allow the attorney to work with advocates throughout the country and with a tremendous team at NHLP.
ABOUT NHLP
The National Housing Law Project’s mission is to advance housing justice for poor people and communities. We achieve this by strengthening and enforcing the rights of tenants, increasing housing opportunities for underserved communities, and preserving and expanding the nation’s supply of safe and affordable homes.
NHLP works at the crossroads of housing and community development advocacy, legal services for the poor, and civil rights. We believe that access to safe, decent, and affordable housing is a fundamental human right that should be enjoyed by everyone. Our work is grounded in the realities that shape poor people’s housing choices. Housing security is an essential component of racial and civil equality and a critical foundation for education, health, employment, social engagement, and opportunity. We provide communities and their advocates with the tools they need to advance those rights. NHLP has offices in San Francisco and Washington DC.
The National Housing Law Project is committed to an environment of inclusion and equitable opportunity for members of the Housing Justice Network, our partner organizations, clients, staff, and board. We seek to hire individuals from diverse backgrounds, especially people with lived experiences impacted by housing insecurity and discrimination, or who have experienced the intersection of multiple systems of discrimination.
We actively promote mutual respect, acceptance, appreciation and teamwork across all lines of difference.
SCOPE OF THE POSITION
The Staff Attorney will report to the Evictions Initiative Project Director and partner with them to work on and eventually lead strategic projects. This position will include advocacy to federal policymakers, such as developing comments in response to proposed rules, advocating for subregulatory guidance, and reviewing proposed legislation.
In addition, the position is responsible for providing substantive legal and technical support to housing attorneys and advocates, tenant leaders and organizations, and nonprofit agencies in furtherance of strengthening tenants rights.
The purpose of such support is to advance the housing justice movement by nurturing effective housing justice attorneys and building power among tenants most impacted by the housing crisis. This position will involve interaction with a range of stakeholders (advocates, organizers, tenant leaders, government officials and other policy makers) from many different organizations.
With the support of NHLP’s senior litigation attorneys, the Staff Attorney will also have the opportunity to pursue impact litigation. NHLP delivers most of its services by phone, video or email, although the staff attorney may occasionally travel for litigation, policy advocacy, conferences, or to provide in-person trainings. The attorney can be located anywhere in the United States with remote options available. The Supervisor is located in Los Angeles, California.
REQUISITE SKILLS
● J.D. and a license to practice law
● A minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience
● Substantive involvement in at least one strategic legal or policy advocacy campaign to enact or implement tenant rights
● Strong relationship-building skills in a variety of contexts
● Excellent research and analytical skills
● Effective communication skills (written, verbal, non-verbal)
● Commitment to applying a race equity lens to advocacy
● Ability to effectively manage one’s time and attention between urgent deadlines and long-term projects in an organized way
● Self-direction and motivation
● Enjoys working collaboratively in a team setting
● Growth mindset
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Salary will depend on the qualifications of the applicant but will be tied to NHLP’s attorney salary scale. The salary scale is dependent on years of professional service and expected range within the scale is $92,000-$115,000.
For attorneys with more than 15 years of experience, the scale begins at $128,000.
NHLP provides fully paid health, dental, vision and other insurance for its employees. NHLP also contributes 3% of salary to an employer-sponsored 401(k).
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications should include the job title in the subject line. Please email the following to hr@nhlp.org:
● Cover letter (no more than 2 pages) that details your interest in NHLP and the position and briefly describes how your work experience relates to the job description
● Resume
● Three references that we can contact
● A writing sample that is no more than 10 pages
The position was posted on March 25, 2024.
This position will remain open until filled but an initial review of applications will start on April 22, 2024. Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their application by this initial review date.
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Evictions Initiative Project Director
LOCATION: Flexible, remote options available