Attorney Fellow: Housing

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) seeks a civil rights-oriented attorney to promote and advance the human and legal rights of people with disabilities. Ideal candidates will share DRM’s values and commitment to the fundamental rights of people with disabilities to maintain independence and full access to community life with freedom from abuse and discrimination.

DRM attorneys represent clients in judicial and administrative proceedings, engage in systemic advocacy and policy work, monitor the implementation of complex systemic reform efforts, conduct outreach and education, and provide legal advice and technical assistance to people with disabilities, their families, and other stakeholders.

Available Role and Responsibilities Include:

Fair Housing and Eviction Defense: The attorney in this role will represent individuals with disabilities facing eviction, pursuant to Maryland’s Access to Counsel Statute and DRM priorities. They will also conduct advocacy that advances the full inclusion and integration of persons with disabilities into all aspects of life in their community, including access to affordable and accessible housing. While the attorney’s primary responsibility will be representing clients in judicial and administrative proceedings, there may also be opportunities to engage in systemic advocacy and policy work, monitor Settlement Agreements, Consent Decrees, and Voluntary Compliance Agreements, and conduct outreach and education. This position will require regular travel throughout the state and reliable access to transportation. The fellowship period is from August 2025 – December 2026 (approximately 17 months).

DRM Attorney Responsibilities Include:

• Maintain an active caseload representing individuals with disabilities in administrative and/or judicial proceedings;
• Support public policy and litigation efforts;
• Conduct outreach to identify clients in need of services;
• Under supervision of DRM’s management and leadership teams, develop strategies to advance DRM’s advocacy priorities;
• Work collaboratively with community stakeholders, co-counsel, and others;
• Participate in coalitions and task forces with clients, constituents, and community partners on matters relevant to the civil rights of persons with disabilities;
• Engage in administrative and legislative advocacy at the local and state level; and
• Travel throughout the State of Maryland.

Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school;
• Licensed to practice law in Maryland, or admitted after sitting for next available Bar exam;
• Strong commitment to DRM’s core mission of ensuring the civil rights of people with disabilities to self-determination, freedom from harm, due process protections, to develop physically, emotionally and intellectually, and to participate in community life, with meaningful choices and opportunities;
• Strong interest in social justice and equity issues impacting the disability community;
• Excellent organizational and project management skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, ability to communicate ideas with enthusiasm to diverse audiences;
• Ability to research and analyze legal issues, develop and execute a variety of advocacy strategies, and conduct legal research;
• Ability to work independently and to establish and maintain effective working relationships and collaborate with colleagues in a team environment;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Ability to successfully manage multiple work priorities and work under deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-5 years’ (or more) legal experience;
• Experience with one or more of the following: Maryland landlord-tenant law, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act; federally subsidized housing programs;
• Strong interest in access to housing and preventing eviction for people in the disability community;
• Experience handling administrative appeals, representing clients in court, or working on systemic public policy issues such as commenting on proposed regulations, advocating for changes with state agencies, and working on coalitions with other legal and non-legal partners;
• Desire to empower clients to grow as advocates;
• Experience working directly with persons with disabilities;
• A demonstrated interest or background in public interest work, particularly related to disability rights issues;
• Experience with public policy advocacy and the legislative process;
• Life experience with a disability; and
• Fluency in American Sign Language or Spanish.