Disabilities Community Project Staff Attorney

About Tzedek DC

Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes dealing the often devastating consequences of abusive debt collection practices and other consumer related issues, like 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 own 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.

Tzedek DC’s Disabilities Community Project focuses on serving DC residents with disabilities who have lower incomes and are facing debt and consumer problems. Disabled community members disproportionately experience debt and consumer problems, some of which are distinct or targeted toward the disabled community. We are hiring one Disabilities Community Project Staff Attorney to start ideally in the third quarter of 2024. We strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, people of color, bilingual and bicultural people, people from immigrant communities, people of all genders, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and multi-marginalized community members.

Position Tasks & Duties

The position will include the following tasks and duties:

• Representing disabled residents and other individuals in debt collection and consumer rights litigation and related matters, both in D.C. courts and, as needed, before federal agencies and courts
• Advising disabled clients on consumer and debt issues (These issues are broad, but have included, and are not limited to, student loan issues; medical debt; scams, fraud and identity theft; lending discrimination; Social Security and other benefit overpayments; nursing facility debt; and more.)
• Drafting motions, pleadings, declarations, memoranda, and other legal documents or letters to support clients in litigation or pre-litigation
• Communicating and negotiating with opposing counsel during various points or pre- litigation and litigation
• 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
• Attending coalition group meetings on behalf of Tzedek DC
• Helping shape and supporting Tzedek DC’s policy work, in particular through a disability justice and racial justice lens
• Providing internal support at Tzedek DC to ensure policies and practices that best support disabled clients and community members

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 location).

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• 1-10+ years’ legal experience, including experience in direct legal services for clients with low incomes (Law school clinic, externship, summer, or other relevant practice experience during law school will be considered.)
• A demonstrated interest in disability justice and 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.
• Some familiarity with Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits is a plus.
• Spanish language skills or knowledge and/or lived experience as a member of the Latino / Hispanic community are also 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