Nonprofit

Supervising Attorney

Hybrid, Work must be performed in or near Washington, DC
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  • Details

    Job Type:Full Time
    Education:J.D. Required
    Experience Level:Managerial
    Salary:USD $85,000 - $116,000 / year
    Areas of Focus:Consumer Protection, Legal Assistance

    Description

    About Tzedek DC

    Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes who are dealing with the often devastating consequences of abusive debt collection practices and other consumer-related problems like inaccurate credit reporting, identity theft, and predatory lending. We carry out that mission with the goal of addressing racial gaps in wealth and equality. We are likewise committed to actively countering bias, prejudice, and racism, and to creating and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization.

    Tzedek DC provides direct legal and financial counseling services for DC residents with debt issues, advocates for fairer policies nationally and in the District of Columbia, and conducts community-based, bilingual financial empowerment programs. Tzedek DC has been consistently recognized as “one of the best” nonprofits in the Greater Washington region by the Catalogue for Philanthropy.

    We strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, people of color, bilingual and bicultural people, people from immigrant communities, people of all genders, veterans, LGBTQIA+ community members, and multi-marginalized community members.

    Position Tasks & Duties

    The position will include the following tasks and duties:

    • Representing and ultimately supervising the representation of individuals in debt collection and consumer rights litigation and related matters — both in D.C. courts and, as needed, before federal agencies and courts and other tribunals.
    • Advising clients on consumer and debt issues. These issues are broad and may include consumer debt, student loan issues, medical debt, scams, fraud and identity theft, lending discrimination, Social Security and other benefit overpayments, nursing facility debt, constitutional issues, and more.
    • Drafting motions, pleadings, declarations, memoranda, letters, and other legal documents to support clients in litigation or pre-litigation
    • Communicating and negotiating with opposing counsel
    • Providing trauma-informed direct legal services, including performing intakes and handling a caseload
    • Conducting outreach and education activities, providing referrals, and partnering with pro bono volunteers
    • Contributing to Tzedek DC’s programmatic efforts, including our community education work
    • Attending coalition group meetings on behalf of Tzedek DC
    • Helping shape and supporting Tzedek DC’s policy work
    • Following a period of orientation and training, supervising attorneys, law graduates, other junior staff, and interns in the above.
    • This position will require travel around the District of Columbia. It will require little to no travel outside of DC. Currently, most Tzedek DC staff work a hybrid schedule with three days per week from home and two days per week in the office (either at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law or at our Navy Yard, Ward 8 location).

    Preferred Qualifications

    The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

    • 5 –10+ years’ legal experience, including experience in direct legal services for clients with low incomes, ideally in DC consumer law
    • A demonstrated interest in disability justice and/or racial justice
    • Diverse backgrounds and experiences are a strength in engaging with Tzedek DC’s client communities. We encourage members of marginalized communities and multi-marginalized individuals to apply for this position, particularly those with lived experience as a disabled person or experience as an ally in racial justice and/or disability justice.
    • Experience supervising staff attorneys or others doing legal work
    • Spanish language fluency is a plus.
    • A demonstrated commitment to public interest work, particularly civil legal services, including but not limited to consumer matters
    • A commitment to serving clients with low incomes
    • Strong academic performance, including excellent research and writing skills
    • Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
    • An ability to provide victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent legal assistance to clients with disabilities
    • An ability to work collaboratively in a variety of contexts and with multiple organizations to facilitate comprehensive services, but also an ability to work independently
    • A combination of organizational, substantive, and relationship-building skills, flexibility, and a sense of humor to thrive in a fluid environment
    • Admission to the DC bar or eligibility to waive in

    About Tzedek DC

    Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes who are dealing with the often devastating consequences of abusive debt collection practices and other consumer-related problems like inaccurate credit reporting, identity theft, and predatory lending. We carry out that mission with the goal of addressing racial gaps in wealth and equality. We are likewise committed to actively countering bias, prejudice, and racism, and to creating and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization.

    Tzedek DC provides direct legal and financial counseling services for DC residents with debt issues, advocates for fairer policies nationally and in the District of Columbia, and conducts community-based, bilingual financial empowerment programs. Tzedek DC has been consistently recognized as “one of the best” nonprofits in the Greater Washington region by the Catalogue…

    Benefits

    The salary range for this position is $85,000-$116,000. Tzedek DC also offers competitive benefits including 27 days of leave per year increased to 33 days per year in the next calendar year after 1 year of service, full payment of staff member health care premiums, dental insurance, long term disability, group life insurance, and a 403b plan with automatic contributions by Tzedek DC after 1 year of service. This position is also eligible to seek student loan repayment assistance and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

    The salary range for this position is $85,000-$116,000. Tzedek DC also offers competitive benefits including 27 days of leave per year increased to 33 days per year in the next calendar year after 1 year of service, full payment of staff member health care premiums, dental insurance, long term disability, group life insurance, and a 403b plan with automatic contributions by Tzedek DC after 1 year of service. This position is also eligible to seek student loan repayment assistance and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

    Location

    Hybrid
    Work must be performed in or near Washington, DC
    Washington, DC, USA

    Apply to This Job

    Instructions:

    Application materials and any questions, including application accommodation requests, should be directed by email only to:

    ah@tzedekdc.org

    Vaccination Requirement: As a grantee of the DC government per the Mayor's Order 2021-099, we are required to confirm the vaccination status of all employees who might at any point be in person with us or the public. As a potential employee whose role may include contact with the public or other office members, please let us know if you are vaccinated and have received a booster or if you are making an accommodation request to be exempted from the vaccination requirement for a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief.

    Prioritizing Access and Inclusion: If you require accommodations or have any access needs that you want to make sure are met during any part of this application and hiring process, please reach out to us at ah@tzedekdc.org.

    Statistics frequently show that women, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and disabled people, as well as people in other marginalized groups, apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Tzedek DC encourages you to break that statistic and apply anyway. (Note: lived experience managing your own legal concerns related to any of the above counts as experience too.) We look forward to your application.

    TZEDEK DC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is the policy of Tzedek DC that no employee or applicant for employment or services will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, family responsibilities or family status, veteran’s status, or any other basis prohibited by law, including the D.C. Human Rights Act and Language Access Act.

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