Paralegal - Tenant Right to Counsel Project (TRCP)
About The Position
MLA is committed to ensuring legal representation for all Marylanders facing eviction or forced displacement. Since its inception in October 2022, MLA’s Tenant Right to Counsel Project (TRCP) has represented over 1,600 households. Now, operating across the state, TRCP seeks to hire one paralegal in the Midwestern Maryland office, located in Frederick, MD, who is passionate about public interest law and social justice and wants to work closely with communities burdened by systemic socioeconomic barriers to prevent eviction and homelessness. Housing insecurity was endemic in Maryland even before the massive economic and social disruptions that marked the COVID-19 pandemic. As the uneven economic recovery disparately impacts the communities MLA represents, our legal services are as critical now as ever to preventing evictions, fighting unfair rental practices, and preserving affordable housing. TRCP staff attorneys work at the front line of Maryland’s housing justice movement, interviewing renters by phone and at court on their day of trial, and engaging them through grassroots outreach. TRCP is building a committed, collegial, and hard-working team to lead multi-faceted advocacy focused on trial representation, appeals, community outreach, and policy work. Our paralegals provide both support and leadership in these efforts. The Tenant Right to Counsel Project prioritizes training, professional development, and mentorship. The Paralegal position offers potential advancement to case-handling responsibilities, including representation of clients in certain proceedings before Maryland’s district courts (as permitted by Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. art. § 10-206(b)). For both new and experienced paralegals, TRCP offers a welcoming place to gain valuable skills in a fast-paced, rigorous, and compassionate work environment.
Requirements
- Ability to use a computer, web-based applications, and computer programs such as Office 365, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Excellent communication, research, critical thinking, and writing skills.
- Self-starter with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet regular deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to provide quality legal advocacy and representation for a low-income, diverse client base.
- Ability to travel locally and regionally in Maryland as needed.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of Westlaw Edge or other legal research software is a plus.
- Prior experience and/or interest in providing nonprofit legal services is a plus.
- Spanish language proficiency is desirable.
Responsibilities
- Assist attorneys in all aspects of representation in Failure to Pay Rent, Tenant Holding Over, and Breach of Lease eviction cases.
- Regularly attend court as part of MLA’s same-day representation program to assist attorneys and clients
- Assist attorneys in all aspects of representation in administrative hearings regarding the retention or recovery of housing subsidies.
- Participate in client intake in-person in the office on a regular basis and in community outreach initiatives.
- Continue professional development and education by attending trainings and other programs sponsored by Maryland Legal Aid.
- Maintain case records for clients in the LegalServer case management system.
- All the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation.
Benefits
- MLA provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, a hybrid work arrangement, and more.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
