Staff Attorney

MLA announces an immediate opening for a housing and consumer law staff attorney in the Housing and Consumer Law unit located in Baltimore, MD. Staff attorneys will be expected to work with other attorneys, law graduates, law clerks, legal assistants, paralegals, social workers, and students on cases or projects. They must maintain all case files in accordance with MLA standards. The Baltimore City Housing and Consumer Law Unit handles the following types of housing and consumer cases: landlord/tenant cases involving private landlords and public and subsidized tenancies, Mortgage Foreclosure defense, breach of contract, repossessions, bankruptcy, tax sale defense, debt collection and student loan collection. A staff attorney in the Housing and Consumer Law Unit will need to litigate before all state courts and administrative bodies and the federal court. This position handles housing and consumer related legal matters including all functions related to casework, from initial intake through representation of clients in all relevant courts and proceedings.
In addition, Housing and Consumer Law Attorneys throughout MLA meet regularly through the Consumer Law Task Force and with other consumer-focused legal services organizations to learn and work on consumer issues that affect low-income Marylanders. Tasks assigned to staff attorneys may include any or all of but are not necessarily limited to the following:
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Screen clients for case acceptance and make referrals, as appropriate.
• Represent and Defend clients in Baltimore City District and Circuit Court and the Federal Bankruptcy Court.
• Represent clients in Housing and Consumer Law matters.
• Conduct preliminary and subsequent interviews with clients.
• Conduct factual investigation and analysis as well as legal research.
• Advise clients of results of investigation and research and counsel clients regarding their options.
• Draft pleadings to include complaints, answers, memoranda of law, briefs, etc. as assigned by supervisors and chiefs.
• Develop case theory and strategy for the representation of clients.
• Prepare cases and represent clients during negotiations and in hearings, trials, and appeals
• Continue professional development and education through attendance at trainings and other programs sponsored by the MLA.
• Maintain case records for clients in the Legal Server case management system.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the essential functions of the position.