Youth Housing Attorney

Homeless Persons Representation Project seeks diverse and dynamic applicants for a two-year, full-time, entry level attorney position as an Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Fellow with HPRP’s Homeless Youth Initiative. The Fellowship ideally begins in August 2022.

Who We Are: Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) advances housing justice and works to end homelessness in Maryland by providing outreach, education, and free civil legal services to people who are unhoused or unstably housed, and by engaging in broader advocacy to address systemic problems. HPRP collaborates with persons with lived experience of homelessness in recognition that people have the power and expertise to determine solutions to systemic issues affecting their lives. 

Equal Justice Works (EJW) is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. EJW facilitates Fellowships at legal services organizations to help fulfill our nation’s promise of equal justice for all. The Housing Justice Program is the only EJW program that employs both lawyers and organizers to work together as Fellows at legal aid and grassroots organizations in areas where evictions and housing instability have reached epidemic proportions.

The Position: The Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Fellow will join HPRP’s Homeless Youth Initiative team to provide legal representation and advocate for housing rights of youth and young adults aged 25 and younger who are unhoused or unstably housed and separated from their parents or guardians. Responsibilities include: 

Outreach & Education

·        Launch and maintain community-based legal clinics

·        Create referral partnerships with youth-serving organizations in Baltimore City

·        Develop and present “know your rights” trainings for youth and youth-serving organizations

Legal Representation

·        Provide zealous direct legal representation to young persons in housing matters such as eviction defense, subsidized housing rights, subsidy terminations, access to shelter and housing, and housing discrimination 

·        Provide zealous direct legal representation to young persons in matters needed to ensure long-term housing stability such as access to public benefits and criminal record expungement

Youth Collaboration & Policy Advocacy

·        Participate in local systems reform efforts to improve and expand subsidized housing opportunities for youth

·        Support policy priorities of the Baltimore City Youth Action Board

·        Participate in coalition efforts to expand tenants’ protections through local and state legislative advocacy and organizing

Minimum Qualifications: 

• J.D. from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in Maryland or licensed in another state and eligible for special admission to the Maryland bar
• 0-3 years of legal experience
• Experience advocating for people facing economic insecurity or homelessness

What You Bring: 

·        Demonstrated commitment to diversity and social justice, and personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences

·        Excellent analytical and writing skills

·        Strong organizational skills and ability to set priorities and handle multiple tasks

·        Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

·        Desire to contribute to ongoing organizational equity work at HPRP

·        Knowledge of housing law and/or experience with housing and benefits agencies is a plus

·        Experience with managing projects, delivering trainings, and/or legislative advocacy is a plus

Please note all fellows are expected to fulfill the complete duration of the Fellowship and will be required to sign a Fellowship Agreement with Equal Justice Works. 

Fellowship Benefits:

Equal Justice Works Fellows are part of a network of over 2,500 current and former fellows dedicated to improving access to equal justice for all. As a member of the network, each fellow has access to:

• A kick-off training event to foster learning and networking among the Housing Justice Program Fellows
• Equal Justice Works’ annual Leadership Development Training, which is attended by ~300 current Fellows each year. The conference will be virtual in 2022 and in-person in 2023
• Responsive training and technical assistance from local and national partners including the National Housing Law Project, the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, and Voices for Civil Justice
• Regular substantive and skills-based webinars throughout the Fellowship 

Salary & Employee Benefits: The Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Fellow will receive an annual salary, health insurance, and other comprehensive benefits through Homeless Persons Representation Project. The annual salary for this position is $66,200 - $69,950 depending on experience for 0-3 years of legal experience (higher if found to have relevant second language fluency). HPRP has a 35-hour workweek and flexible scheduling when not scheduled for court. Interested applicants should contact Julian Garcia, HPRP Director of Finance and Operations, at jgarcia@hprplaw.org with any follow-up questions.

To Apply: Please email a resume and a thoughtful, personalized cover letter (addressed to Ingrid Lofgren, Director – Youth Homelessness) to jobs@hprplaw.org. Specify “EJW Housing Justice Fellow” in the subject line of the email. References will be requested if you are scheduled for an interview. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with priority given to those received by July 29, 2022, but candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Position remains open until filled.

HPRP is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We believe that having a staff, board, and volunteers with diverse personal and professional backgrounds and lived experience enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from Black people, Indigenous peoples, people of color, immigrants, persons with disabilities, members of the TLGBQIA+ (Trans, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more) community, people with lived experience of poverty and/or homelessness, and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.