Job o’ the Day: Consumer Housing Unit Attorney with Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is the federally funded legal services provider for Philadelphia County. They provide a wide range of legal services to Philadelphia’s indigent community, including community education, advice, referral, pro se assistance, and representation at administrative hearings and at all levels of state and federal courts.
PLA is currently accepting applications for a Consumer Housing Unit Attorney. From the PSJD job listing:
PLA will consider applications from experienced attorneys who will be immediately available, as well as from recent or prospective graduates who will be available no later than September 2013.
PLA is a no profit legal services organization primarily funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation. PLA serves approximately 7,500 clients each year in the areas of family law, public benefits and consumer housing.
PLA is looking to add an attorney to a unit that presently consists of three attorneys and eight paralegals – six of whom are dedicated to the Save Your Home Philly Hotline, which PLA runs with funding from the City of Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development. The Unit primarily represents low income homeowners who are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. We are looking for an attorney who will help us expand our ability to bring affirmative litigation on behalf of such homeowners and to devise more efficient models for representation. Part of the attorney’s responsibility may include supervising a housing clinic sponsored by one of the area law schools.
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Recent and prospective law school graduates as well as experienced attorneys are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have an exemplary academic record and a commitment to excellence, as well as a demonstrated commitment to the legal services and to protecting and advancing the rights of the most vulnerable members of society. Excellent litigation skills, including trial skills, writing ability, oral advocacy and appellate advocacy, are essential. Creativity, tenacity, compassion, empathy, the ability to work long hours, learn quickly and work well with co-workers and with clients are qualities that will be highly regarded in the selection process. The ability to speak and write Spanish effectively is an advantage, though not essential.
A working knowledge of bankruptcy law, consumer protection law, contracts law, property law and the UCC will be helpful.
The application deadline is February 18, 2013. For more information, view the full job listing at PSJD.org (log-in required).