Staff Attorney

Job Summary: Maine Equal Justice (MEJ) is seeking an attorney to join our team.

The attorney will provide civil legal representation to low-income Maine residents with a primary focus on eviction defense and other housing-related matters. Many clients served will be ineligible for assistance from other providers due to immigration status. While housing will be the core focus, the attorney may also work on public benefits matters. The position includes opportunities to support the supervision of legal services paralegals, particularly in delivering limited legal assistance and in casework connected to the attorney’s docket.

In addition to direct representation, the attorney is responsible for supporting MEJ’s systemic advocacy through impact litigation and legal support on administrative and legislative advocacy. The attorney is also responsible for community outreach and education to increase access to legal services by eligible individuals.

Maine Equal Justice is a nonprofit legal aid and economic justice organization located in Augusta, Maine that represents the interests of people with low income in the state legislature, before the courts and administrative agencies, and through outreach and education in the community. Maine Equal Justice works to increase economic security, opportunity, and equity in Maine, ensuring that people can access adequate health care, food, income security, and higher education and training.

Representative Tasks:

• Handle legal work in accordance with MEJ relevant ethical and professional responsibilities;
• Develop special expertise on tenant rights and housing-related matters and public benefit programs and serve as a resource for program staff and volunteers in this area;
• Represent clients at eviction court assistance projects across multiple courthouses and handle cases before state agencies, state courts, and federal court;
• Accept cases consistent with program priorities and funder requirements;
• Maintain client files in such a way that other staff can provide coverage during leave or in an emergency;
• Ensure that all work-related communications (including correspondence and email) are handled in a professional manner;
• Act as a valued contributor and supportive colleague to other members of the Legal Services Team and to the organization as a whole;
• Provide appropriate paralegal support;
• Update or develop client education materials in plain language for use by the general public within areas of focus;
• Identify and communicate effectively with individuals seeking legal assistance, including people in crisis and those who are at risk because of cultural, racial, medical or communication barriers (including those with limited English proficiency, who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, who are blind, or visually impaired, those who are illiterate or have low literacy levels, and those with mental health challenges);
• Work with and provide legal support to community organizing staff, policy staff, and other community partners to identify opportunities for litigation as part of broader advocacy efforts;
• Support the policy team with drafting legislation and commenting on agency rulemaking to ensure that MEJ’s policy efforts are legally enforceable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to and clear analysis of economic and racial justice and the ability to incorporate that analysis into their work.
• Strong knowledge base in tenant rights and eviction defense and other housing-related matters.
• Ability to build a strong knowledge base and expertise in the area of public benefit law and policy.
• Knowledge of additional programs and resources throughout the state that provide services or benefits to low-income people.
• Ability to evaluate a community members’ issues and concerns (sometimes beyond what they indicate that they are calling about) and make appropriate referrals.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations and ability to research through statutes, program manuals, and/or talking to appropriate experts.
• Strong organizational skills to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work in a collaborative, rapid-paced environment.
• Ability to work sensitively with individuals/families with low income.
• Ability to work with a variety of individuals in coalition and as a team.
• Knowledge of computer programs including Microsoft Office and G-Suite. Salesforce experience is helpful but not required.

Minimum Qualifications:

A six (6) year combination of education, training, and/or experience in working on issues that affect low-income people, including direct client contact. At least two (2) years representing tenants in eviction defense or other housing matters. Knowledge and experience of the legal system and substantive and procedural law. Law degree required

Health and dental insurance are provided, with premiums and deductibles mostly covered by the employer, as well as employer-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance. MEJ offers retirement accounts with an annual employer contribution, generous vacation time (five weeks in the first year of employment), generous sick time, and 14 paid holidays per year.

Knowledge of a spoken language in addition to English is preferred but not required.