Housing Attorney (2-year Grant Funded)

Organization Overview:
 

Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorado’s 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 communities–one 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 staff's 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 that align with program objectives and meets the standards set forth by CLS Casehandler guidelines.


•  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 legal matter to 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 rental assistance. 

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. 


• Experience representing clients 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 population, i.e. those living in poverty, those combatting mental illness. 

Further, while we will absolutely consider applicants who are not bilingual, we would love to add another bilingual Spanish speaker to our team as many of our clients speak Spanish.  All candidates must have valid license to practice law in Colorado at the time of hire, or ability to obtain a Colorado license within a few months, and be willing to work in Arapahoe County.

How to Apply:
To apply, please use the "Apply for This Job" link on our careers page and submit your resume, cover letter, and legal writing sample no later than Monday, February 2.  In your cover letter, please indicate any experience you have with housing law, litigation, working with vulnerable populations, and/or your Spanish language skills. Please reach out to Karen Vilner, our Director of People & Culture, at [email protected] if 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 employee's 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 balance. We promote and foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically safe work environment, striving to be a “Best Place to Work” in Colorado.