Staff Attorney Position

(Breaking Barriers to Employment Project)

NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM

OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP), a private, non-profit law firm that provides free, high quality civil legal services to low-income residents of the District of Columbia, seeks a Staff Attorney to support its multi-disciplinary “Breaking Barriers to Employment” Project. The Staff Attorney will seek to remove barriers that hinder low-income job-seekers in obtaining or retaining employment. In addition to providing legal advice and representation, the Staff Attorney will help implement collaborative education and outreach projects with the DC Public Library (DCPL), as described below. This Project expands NLSP’s strategic focus on overcoming employment obstacles and is funded by a City Fund grant.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Provides informational and legal services across a diverse spectrum of substantive areas to remove barriers to employment. Such barriers include, but are not limited to: denials of employment based on criminal records, arrest or credit reports, denials of professional licenses, suspensions of drivers’ licenses, excessive wage garnishments, child support arrearages, and the civil collateral consequences of incarceration; uses a variety of advocacy tools, including: negotiation, litigation, community education, media advocacy and collaborations with other community-based partners; conducts legal information workshops and consultations for job seekers in DC Public Library branches; actively participates as a member of the NLSP team; adheres to NLSP policies, procedures and standards of practice, as well as the highest professional and ethical standards; other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Member in good standing of the DC Bar or eligible for admission; at least 2 years of practice required (relevant clinical experience may count); demonstrated commitment to serving low-income persons; capacity to handle a diverse spectrum of substantive legal issues and advocacy; excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to reach diverse audiences; strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams; prior litigation experience; written and oral proficiency in Spanish highly desirable.

Supervision: The Staff Attorney will report to NLSP’s Pro Bono Counsel and NLSP Managing Attorneys.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign duties and responsibilities to this job, or reassign duties and responsibilities, at any time.

Salaries and Benefits: Salary depends upon experience; generous employee benefit package; potential eligibility for Loan Repayment Assistance Program of the DC Bar Foundation.

Application Process: Interested persons should send a letter of interest, resume, names of three professional/ educational references and writing sample by email to: Attorney Search Committee at . Please indicate the position you are interested in and reference that position in the subject line. This position will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

NLSP is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the Neighborhood Legal Services Program 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 DC Human Rights Act and Language Access Act.

Neighborhood Legal Services Program

680 Rhode Island Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20002

(202) 832-NLSP (6577)