EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOW – FINANCIAL STABILIZATION

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), founded in 1981, is the oldest and largest volunteer legal services organization in Maryland. MVLS removes barriers to justice through free civil legal help, community engagement, and advocacy for equitable laws. Our vision is for a fair legal system that is free of injustice and equitably serves underrepresented Marylanders. We achieve this goal primarily through our core pro bono program and more targeted programs that serve specialized legal needs. For more program information, visit our website: www.mvlslaw.org.

MVLS’s core values are teamwork, passion for MVLS’s mission, commitment to clients, volunteers, and community partners, initiative and commitment to eliminate systemic barriers to justice based on race and economic disparities. MVLS is committed to fostering an inclusive culture in the workplace. Our work to end barriers to justice starts with increasing the diversity of our staff to better reflect the communities we serve.

MVLS is hiring for a 24-month, full-time attorney position as an Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Financial Stabilization Team to begin September 2026. The Fellow will work on various legal issues related to financial stabilization, including estate planning, estate administration, property, and housing.

MVLS has been competitively selected by Equal Justice Works as an implementing partner of Equal Justice Works’ Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) program. The Fellow will provide direct legal services to clients referred from the Baltimore Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). The FEC provides nonlegal financial services and counseling to Baltimore residents. In addition to providing direct legal services, Fellows will conduct outreach and training to legal and allied professionals and help increase multidisciplinary, coordinated responses.

An Equal Justice Works fellowship is an opportunity to transform your passion for equal justice into a career. As a Fellow, you will be part of a prestigious cohort of Equal Justice Works attorneys hosted by legal services organizations across the United States. You will develop experience and skills to be a leader in social justice while contributing to a broader community of practice serving Baltimore residents. Fellows in the cohort are required to actively participate in peer-to-peer learning and trainings delivered by Equal Justice Works and training partners throughout the year. In addition, Fellows have individual access to on-demand technical assistance from subject matter experts and are required to participate in Equal Justice Works trainings and conferences.

The Financial Stabilization Fellow will primarily support our Tangled Title Project, which provides representation to clients and removes barriers to clean title and effective accumulation of intergenerational wealth through free civil legal help, community engagement, and advocacy for equitable laws. The position will handle a caseload of estate planning, probate, and property matters, provide support and mentorship to MVLS volunteer attorney pool, organize and conduct trainings on legal topics, recruit attorneys and support the Tangled Title Project at MVLS.

Job Responsibilities:

• Screen clients for eligibility, conduct intake, and make referrals where appropriate.
• Build out referral pipeline with the Baltimore Financial Empowerment Center.
• Provide estate planning, probate, and property legal services to clients referred from the Baltimore Financial Empowerment Center.
• Assist with placing cases with volunteer attorneys.
• Provide direct representation to Maryland residents with estate administration, estate planning, deed, or other property related matters, including both brief advice and full representation.
• Organize Homeowner clinics to help Baltimore City residents stabilize their homes and secure important resources for the long-term ability to remain in their homes.
• Participate in advocacy - including legislative advocacy, working with community partners, agencies and other organizations - to address barriers to housing stabilization.
• Work with clients to resolve potential estate issues prior to placement with volunteer attorneys.
• Perform case reviews and workups for cases before they are placed with volunteers.
• Assess clients to determine if they have a clear path to title so that they may qualify for program assistance.
• Provide mentoring support to volunteer attorneys accepting estate and deed cases, including answering questions, reviewing documents, assisting with draft pleadings, conducting legal research on specific topics, attending hearings with attorneys when requested, and providing knowledge and experience to newer attorneys.
• Develop trainings and resource materials for volunteer attorneys.
• Explore additional legal remedy options for tangled estates including quiet title and partition actions and develop related legal templates and other legal resources.
• Coordinate with fellow MVLS staff to conduct presentations, trainings, and community and client outreach activities.
• Meet intake and representation goals as set by the Tangled Title Project Manager.
• Develop self-help materials for pro se litigants.
• Other duties as assigned by the Tangled Title Project Manager.

Job Skills & Requirements:

• Excellent written and oral communication
• Skilled in case management
• Ability to confidently communicate with diverse audiences
• Demonstrated networking and relationship management skills
• Willingness to learn and present about the legal services provided by MVLS
• Be a team player who is able to work with staff, volunteers, and community partners
• Strong planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Be self-motivated and self-directed
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, projects, and priorities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Experience & Education:

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Must be admitted to the Maryland Bar and in good standing or seeking admittance to the Maryland Bar.
• One year of estates or property law experience preferred, though not required.
• Experience with nonprofits or legal services is a strong plus
• Demonstrated commitment through work experience, lived experience or volunteer experience to communities, such as: Children, Domestic workers, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and refugees, Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQ people, People of color, People with disabilities, People with HIV/AIDS, Sex workers, Victims of crime and abuse, and Women and girls. 

Compensation

Salary is $65,000 with excellent benefits including: 2 health insurance plans to choose from (MVLS fully covers the monthly premium for individual coverage), dental and vision insurance, a flexible spending plan to reimburse employees with pre-tax dollars for out of pocket medical expenses and eligible child care costs, group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long term disability coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% contribution from MVLS, a monthly commuter stipend equal to the value of an MTA bus pass, 20 vacation days, 2 personal days, 10 sick days and 16 paid holidays per year.

Job Location -

This is an in-office position, with a potential for a hybrid work schedule up to two days a week. This candidate may also need to work from the Baltimore Financial Empowerment Center.

How to Apply

• Please email cover letter, resume, and three professional references to mvls@mvlslaw.org with the subject line “Financial Stabilization Fellow” Applicants are encouraged to address the core values stated at the top of this job posting in their cover letters.
• Submissions are preferred within 4 weeks from when the application is posted.
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
• No telephone calls, please.

This application was posted on June 22, 2026. MVLS generally begins scheduling interviews after the four week application window has ended. Initial interviews with the hiring committee are scheduled for 45 minutes. For advancing candidates, a second 60 minute interview is held with the hiring committee and the Executive Director. Interview questions are provided in advance.  Reference checks are made for final candidates. The interview process generally takes about four weeks. Applicants may request accommodations in the application and interview process by emailing their request to mvls@mvlslaw.org.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. MVLS is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application.

MVLS is an equal opportunity employer. MVLS does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity, age, religion, disability status, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, or immigration status.

Salary is $65,000 with excellent benefits including: 2 health insurance plans to choose from (MVLS fully covers the monthly premium for individual coverage), dental and vision insurance, a flexible spending plan to reimburse employees with pre-tax dollars for out of pocket medical expenses and eligible child care costs, group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long term disability coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% contribution from MVLS, a monthly commuter stipend equal to the value of an MTA bus pass, 20 vacation days, 2 personal days, 10 sick days and 16 paid holidays per year.