Appellate Specialist

Community Economic Defense Project • Denver, CO

2d • Remote

About The Position

The Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP) is a Colorado-based nonprofit launched in 2020 as the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project. Our mission is to partner with low-income and working people to build economic and racial equity by confronting economic abuse and investing in community wealth. We use legal, economic, and advocacy tools to challenge unjust systems. Our team serves over 1,000 people monthly, comprising housing lawyers, economists, data analysts, policy experts, organizers, and technologists. We have assisted over 68,000 low-income Coloradans across 54 counties, distributing over $280 million in emergency assistance and contributing to significant legislation. CEDP's model has been recognized as a best practice by the White House and HUD. Building on our eviction defense work, CEDP has expanded its integrated services to include disaster response, predatory towing, debt collection, benefit access, long-term rental assistance, and homelessness response, offering a continuum of care including navigation, advisory services, targeted payments, legal support, and advocacy.

This Appellate Specialist role is for an experienced attorney to focus on strategic litigation and appeals for the tenant and homeowner legal services teams. The specialist will contribute to grant goals by closing a number of limited cases monthly and dedicating the remainder of their time to strategic litigation and appeals. While primarily handling their caseload independently, they may collaborate with other attorneys on trial-level cases to prepare them for appeal. The role reports directly to the Director of Tenant Legal Services.

Requirements

• Colorado bar admission and JD
• 3+ years' experience as a housing attorney in Colorado
• Experience with trial and appellate litigation, including appeals to the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court
• Affirmative litigation experience in housing law
• Experience working in a legal aid/legal services/non-profit environment
• Demonstrated passion for social and racial justice.
• A supportive, client-focused attitude.
• Strong desire to center client and community needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other attorneys, paralegals, legal support staff, and supervisors in a rapid-change environment centered on social justice and equity.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• A creative, self-driven attitude.
• Position possible to perform remotely with a secure and private environment in compliance with CEDP’s IT requirements and high speed internet to perform the responsibilities of the role.
• Strong organizational abilities.
• Knowledge of MS Office suite, CLIO, Google Suite, Adobe Acrobat desired

Nice To Haves

• Other language skills are not required but are a strong plus and may be eligible for an additional language salary differential

Responsibilities

• Create the appellate strategy and framework for the law firm to ensure long-term strategic impact.
• Set overall goals, priorities, and growth trajectories for CED Law appeals in collaboration with the Directors of Tenant Legal Services, Director of Homeowner Legal Services, and Chief Legal Services Officer and through engagement with CED Law staff.
• Refine and develop appellate policies and procedures.
• Be responsible for a full docket of eviction and homeowner defense and affirmative appeals as well as a number of limited/advice only eviction defense cases to meet grant requirements.
• Be responsible for completing case goals.
• Coordinate across CEDP to ensure holistic service of legal clients when appropriate and consented to by client.
• Complete required documentation for case and data tracking.
• Assist with staff training and onboarding, substantive skills development, and professional development and growth with support from the Directors of Tenant Legal Services and Homeowner Legal Services.
• Assist with trial preparation and second chairing on cases with important issues that we are likely to appeal.
• Take on new, and modify existing, duties as the law firm and its appellate/strategic needs evolve, grow, or shift.

Benefits

• competitive pay
• flexible time off
• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• 401(k)
• technology stipend of $720 per year
• language salary differential for employees who utilize two languages or more at work

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree