Coordinated Intake Project Attorney & Training Specialist

Civil Justice, Inc (CJ) seeks an attorney with passion for training staff and providing high-quality legal advice to Marylanders tenants. This position is fully remote, though all CJ staff are required to attend quarterly in-person CJ staff meetings in central Maryland. The successful candidate will work with CJ’s Coordinated Intake team.  

Overview 

CJ, in collaboration with United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM), operates the Maryland Access to Counsel in Evictions Coordinated Intake System (ACE-CIS). Funded by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, ACE-CIS efficiently connects Maryland tenants to free legal help through 211, online intake, and the Maryland Justice Passport. Within ACE-CIS, the Project Attorney and Training Specialist (PATS) is responsible for reviewing complex tenant intake files, triaging tenants to the legal service provider best placed to help and providing limited-scope legal advice and assistance in drafting post-judgment motions to retain tenants’ appeal rights. In addition, the PATS will lead engaging legal trainings for newly hired ACE intake staff, as well as maintain a program of ongoing training for ACE intake staff. The attorney will work with the Coordinated Intake Team, staff at UWCM, and legal services organizations to improve and streamline the referral process.  

The Project Attorney and Training Specialist (PATS) is a central member of CJ’s Coordinated Intake and Economic Justice teams. PATS reports to the Executive Director and works closely and collaboratively with the Coordinated Intake Project Lead. 

Responsibilities 

• Reviews intake case files referred from ACE intake staff, identifies salient legal issues, and routes to the legal services organization best placed to help.  
• Drafts post-judgment motions and other legal documents in landlord-tenant cases.  
• Answers law-related queries from ACE intake staff, comprised of allied legal professionals, and works with the ACE-CIS Lead to identify training needs.  
• Delivers on-going and new hire legal training to ACE intake staff, refines existing curriculum, and develops innovative, engaging, and effective methods to train non-lawyers in legal topics.   
• Conducts legal research and becomes an authoritative source on Maryland landlord-tenant law.  
• As required, provides limited scope legal advice to tenants facing eviction.  

Qualifications 

• Maryland bar admission, 
• Experience teaching or training and interest in pedagogy and the role of allied legal professionals in legal service delivery. 
• Expertise or legal experience in landlord-tenant law and/or drafting motions. 
• Attention to detail and advanced organizational skills. 
• Collaborative and communicative team-oriented work ethic.  
• Diplomatic approach to conflict resolution. 
• Ability to work on deadline and to manage multiple tasks. 
• Ability to work independently when required, with little supervision.  
• Commitment to CJ’s Team Values of Commnication, Employee Growth, Work/Life Balance, Trust and Support, and Commitment to Excellence. 
• Interest in using technology to increase access to justice or relevant skills or knowledge (coding, data analysis, systems design) looked upon favorably.  
• Spanish or other second language ability is a plus. 

The full-time salary range for the position is $72,500, depending on experience.  

CJ is fully remote, though regular travel to central Maryland will be required. Only candidates in Maryland or bordering states who are willing to travel to Baltimore at least quarterly will be considered. The position starts in October 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning September 12, 2024.