Policy Attorney or Analyst, Healthy Housing

Childrens Law Center•Washington, DC

25d•$66,000 - $76,512•Hybrid

About The Position

Children’s Law Center is a mission-driven organization focused on providing high-quality legal services to children and families in DC. As an organization, we envision a world in which all children have a strong foundation of family, health and education and are free from poverty, trauma, racism and other forms of oppression. Our mission is to do this work together with DC children and families, Children’s Law Center uses the law to solve children’s urgent problems today, improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow and strengthen our community so that change endures. A key part of our mission is to challenge and reduce ways in which racism and other biases – structural and interpersonal – prevent each of us, our organization and the systems in which we work from providing children a strong foundation from which to thrive. Our greatest assets are our people. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our ability to provide the best outcomes for our clients and our community. Staff members at Children’s Law Center advance the organization’s mission through their leadership, result-oriented mindset and commitment to cultural humility. We are looking for individuals who like to be challenged to grow both personally and professionally and value the opportunity to make a difference in their community. Children's Law Center's continued success depends on recruiting and retaining individuals who possess and exemplify these attributes. The Policy Team works to change laws, policies and practices, and also to raise awareness about the District’s successes and failures in meeting children’s needs. Our policy advocacy is grounded in what we have learned from representing tens of thousands of children and their families. Children’s Law Center (CLC) Policy Attorneys work on CLC’s policy initiatives, which include child welfare, children’s behavioral health, housing and special education. CLC’s policy work is outcome-oriented and involves legislative, budget and administrative advocacy with the DC government. CLC is seeking a Healthy Housing Policy Attorney or Policy Analyst to lead our policy work focused on improving housing conditions for our client community. This position has an expected start date of June 9 th , 2026. To be eligible for the Policy Attorney position, applicants must be licensed to practice law in DC or be eligible for DC Bar membership based on the transfer of a Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) score attained in another jurisdiction or membership in good standing in the Bar of another jurisdiction for at least 3 years immediately prior to the application for admission. To be eligible for the Policy Analyst position, applicants must have a pending application for admission in a UBE jurisdiction and must have already taken the UBE or commit to sitting for the next administration of the exam. The policy portfolio of the Housing Policy Attorney or Policy Analyst includes working with stakeholders across the District to ensure DC children and families have access to rental housing that is free from mold, lead and other health-harming conditions by strengthening the District's housing code and other laws related to housing conditions, improving District agencies' enforcement of habitability standards and ensuring District agencies have adequate resources for programs that promote healthier housing and use them effectively.

Requirements

JD degree.
Interest in working on housing policy in the District of Columbia.
The Policy Attorney position requires DC Bar membership or eligibility for DC Bar membership based the transfer of a Uniform Bar Examination score attained in another jurisdiction or membership in good standing in the Bar of another jurisdiction for at least 3 years immediately prior to the application for admission.
The Policy Analyst position requires a pending application for admission in a UBE jurisdiction, and applicants must have already taken the UBE or commit to sitting for the next administration of the exam.

Nice To Haves

Experience with systemic advocacy, with a preference for experience in public policy, public administration or advocacy in DC.
Experience with policy analysis.
Experience working with or on issues impacting communities with limited financial resources.
Experience with, knowledge of or study of healthy housing or related topics.
Demonstrated organizational and project management skills with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously with different timelines.
Strong legal analysis, research, writing and oral advocacy skills. Demonstrated by: law school clinic experience, judicial clerkships, research positions and/or law school awards for moot court or oral advocacy.
Able to work on multiple projects simultaneously with different timelines.
Able to work independently and as part of a team.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
Eager to learn new skills.
Strong strategic and analytical thinking and abilities.
3-5 years’ experience in legal services or other community lawyering is a plus. Experience that will be considered includes job experience, law school clinics, clerkships, and internships.
Experience working with youth or low-income families is a plus.
Cultural Humility – an openness to self-reflection and to understanding and respecting other cultural experiences and points of view and viewing individuals as experts in their own culture and experiences.
Giving and Receiving Feedback – the ability to be self-reflective, give and receive appreciative, coaching, constructive, interpersonal and evaluative feedback.
Conflict Management – a process which is designed to guide individuals and groups from the moment of conflict to the implementation of an identified solution. This process incorporates skills and techniques, including recognizing points of conflict, identifying the facts and feelings involved to get to the root of the issue, investigating equitable solutions, implementing and evaluating solutions, and supporting and guiding others throughout the process.

Responsibilities

Works closely with the other policy attorneys on the team and works with staff in our core, direct services programs in order to implement strategies for improving the laws, policies and programs which affect our client community.
Draft letters, memoranda, proposed legislation and other policy and legal documents.
Attend meetings and participate in collaborative projects with agencies, child advocacy and legal service groups.
Lobby the City Council, Mayor’s Office and agencies on policy initiatives.
Identify, research and recommend strategy choices and positions for CLC.
Serve as policy issue area expert for other staff, as necessary.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Children’s Law Center offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance; employer-provided retirement contributions; flexible spending plans; and vacation, sick, holiday, family and medical leave.
Employees with federal student loan debt can apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
the DC Bar Foundation’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides renewable one-year, interest-free, forgivable loans up to $12,000 per year for qualified Children’s Law Center attorneys.

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