Policy Attorney or Analyst

Childrens Law Center • Washington, DC

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

Children’s Law Center (CLC) is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to children and families in Washington D.C. CLC envisions a world where all children have a strong foundation of family, health, and education, free from poverty, trauma, racism, and other forms of oppression. The organization uses the law to address urgent problems for children today, improve systems for their future, and strengthen the community for lasting change. A core part of CLC's mission is to challenge and reduce the impact of racism and other biases. CLC values diversity, recognizing that varied backgrounds and perspectives enhance their ability to serve clients and the community. The organization seeks individuals who are challenged to grow personally and professionally and who value making a difference. The Policy Team works to improve the lives of children and families in D.C. by identifying systemic solutions and advocating for laws, policies, and practices that promote stability, good health, and quality education. This policy work is informed by CLC's extensive experience representing tens of thousands of children and families. CLC is specifically seeking a Healthy Housing Policy Attorney or Policy Analyst to lead their policy efforts focused on improving housing conditions for their client community. The policy portfolio for this role includes collaborating with stakeholders to ensure children and families have access to rental housing free from mold, lead, and other health hazards. This involves strengthening housing codes and related laws, improving agency enforcement of habitability standards, and ensuring adequate resources for healthier housing programs.

Requirements

• JD degree.
• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously with different timelines.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking and abilities.
• Excellent legal analysis, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• High degree of initiative; able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Eager to learn new skills.
• Interest in working on housing policy in the District of Columbia.
• Policy Attorney position requires DC Bar membership or eligibility for DC Bar membership based on 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.
• 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.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
• Children’s Law Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with systemic advocacy, with a preference for experience in public policy, public administration or advocacy in state or local government.
• 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.
• 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 low-income families is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Works closely with other policy attorneys on the team and with staff in core, direct services programs to implement strategies for improving laws, policies, and programs affecting the client community.
• Drafts letters, memoranda, proposed legislation, and other policy and legal documents.
• Attends meetings and participates in collaborative projects with agencies, child advocacy, and legal service groups.
• Lobbies the City Council, Mayor’s Office, and agencies on policy initiatives.
• Identifies, researches, and recommends strategy choices and positions for CLC.
• Serves as a policy issue area expert for other staff, as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Employer-provided retirement contributions
• Flexible spending plans
• Vacation leave
• Sick leave
• Holiday leave
• Family leave
• Medical leave
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility for employees with federal student loan debt
• DC Bar Foundation’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program for qualified attorneys

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level