Staff Attorney, Homeownership Rights

Position Summary:

The Staff Attorney, Homeownership Rights provides direct legal services to and engages in education

and advocacy on behalf of older low-income or vulnerable homeowners facing foreclosure, tangled

title or other situations putting their home at risk.

Role-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related

• Handle all aspects of client representation, including, but not limited to:
• screening and interviewing walk-in and/or emergency clients
• conducting client interviews by telephone or in person to give legal opinion or recommend a case

is accepted for further services

• filing necessary court documents timely
• analyzing facts to prepare appropriate case strategies
• preparing for all court appearances
• assessing holistic legal needs of clients and make referrals internally and externally
• providing technical assistance to staff and volunteer attorneys
• Handle case-related tasks including but not limited to:
• retrieving, transcribing, and performing prescreen data entry in the case management system as

needed

• preparing and mailing retainers and letters,

drafting court documents

• communicating with clients or third parties via telephone, email, text message or other by other

means

• preparing case files for hearing/trial
• maintaining case files and case management database
• conducting home visits to frail or homebound clients
• handling other case or client related tasks as necessary
• Utilize Language line or other interpretation services for Limited English Proficient (LEP)

older adults.

• Provide information and referrals to older homeowners, linking them to other resources and

supportive services, including emergency financial assistance, support groups, health services and

other resources.

Community Outreach and Education

• Represent SeniorLAW Center at professional committees/coalitions related to homeowners issues to

advocate for better services and access to justice for older homeowners.

• Develop and present legal education workshops to older homeowners.
• Aid in the development of educational materials and resources for older homeowners and “best

practices” resources for professionals.

• Aid in planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and tabling events.
• Assist with community clinics focused on older homeowners.
• Coordinate with Project Director to update website, E-News, and other communication tools with

project related information.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in scheduled project related meetings.
• Participate in staff and Legal team meetings.
• Provide support to other colleagues agency wide as needed.
• Assist with on-boarding staff as needed.
• Become knowledgeable of and follow all SeniorLAW Center’s personnel and legal policies and

procedures.

• Demonstrate and model commitment to SeniorLAW Center’s mission and values.
• Participate in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy and events to support the

organization.

• Assist with quality control and case management data collection and reporting as

necessary.

• Other responsibilities to further mission of the project and organization.

Project-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related

• Provide civil legal assistance to older homeowners, including, but not limited to:
• representing homeowners in mortgage foreclosure diversion court.
• representing homeowners defending mortgage foreclosure complaints, as assigned by Project

Supervisor.

• representing clients in probate and estate administration or other civil proceeding to untangle

or otherwise clear title.

• filing of and representing older homeowners in other civil legal matters as assigned by Project

Supervisor.

• preparation of deeds to establish or confirm homeownership.
• preparation of Wills and other personal planning documents for older homeowners.
• advice or brief services to older homeowners on a variety of civil legal matters related to

homeownership.

• Provide advocacy and referrals to SeniorLAW Center clients with the primary focus on older

homeowners.

• Other duties as identified by Project Supervisor.

Systemic Advocacy

Identify systemic problems affecting older homeowners and work with our local, statewide and

national partners to develop creative solutions.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of

activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties,

responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor

Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience consulting older homeowners
• Experience in financing, title, or mortgage foreclosure litigation
• Courtroom experience
• Second language proficiency

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors:

• Must be a motivated self-starter
• Must possess high quality advocacy and negotiating skills
• Highly professional, organized, energetic, flexible, and culturally sensitive
• Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Interest and ability to work with older people and persons of different backgrounds

Work Conditions:

• This job operates in a professional office environment.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and

photocopiers.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to

successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use

hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and

arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or

crawl; talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities

required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision,

depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

This is a full-time exempt hybrid position based in Philadelphia. Excellent benefits, including fully paid health and dental for employee, long- and short-term disability, 401k, flexible spending plan, and generous holidays and leave time, with a value of over $20,000. Salary range is commensurate with years of experience and SeniorLAW Center’s salary structure: starting salary $66,000.

Note SeniorLAW Center has a mandatory COVID vaccination policy for all staff and volunteers. All applications should include a cover letter and resume.

SeniorLAW Center is an equal opportunity employer and values fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace in all aspects of our work. SeniorLAW Center prohibits discrimination based on age, race, national origin, color, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, sex, gender identity, familial status, or any other basis prohibited by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.