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
· 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.
Application Instructions
The application should include:
1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Name and contact information for two references
4. A relevant and substantive writing sample of original work product of no more than 5 pages in length
Application materials and any questions, including application accommodation requests, should be directed by email only to: [email protected]
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