United Community Housing Coalition

Applicant Instructions  

Interested candidates should send a position specific resume and cover letter, fully completed employment application (including three references) to employment@uchcdetroit.org 

​

Position Overview

The staff attorney will work under the direction of the Executive Director and the Director of Legal Services. The ideal staff attorney will have excellent writing, communication, and problem solving skills. S/he must be able to work both independently and collaboratively and thrive in a fast-paced environment. The staff attorney must possess sound legal judgment, have the ability to think creatively, be able to quickly grasp legal issues and factual claims, be compassionate and detail oriented.

 

Responsibilities

The staff attorney will handle a broad range of matters, including but not limited to:

• Conducting client intake including completion of all necessary forms for clients.

• Serving clients who will potentially need a variety of types of legal assistance including, but not limited to, Tax Foreclosure Prevention counseling, Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention counseling, Landlord-Tenant counseling and Eviction Prevention assistance, and Land Contract counseling.

• Providing Court Representation, which may include physical as well as remote appearances in the state and federal courts and in related administrative proceedings, in addition to the preparation of pleadings

• Maintaining client confidentiality under all circumstances.

• Interacting with other staff to advise on and/or facilitate the execution of the organization's programmatic and/or operational initiatives.

• Drafting and filing legal documents with the appropriate government agencies.

• Collecting and tracking necessary documents for client service and reporting

• Drafting correspondence to clients and government agencies.

• Participating in various organization staff meetings.

• Perform with a high standard of professionalism and respect for clients and fellow colleagues. 

• Providing other assistance that may be necessary to further the goals of the program or the organization.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or the Director of Legal Services.

• Ability to work well with a variety of people, both clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

• Ability to meet deadlines and manage a caseload effectively. 

​

Preferred Qualifications

The Staff Attorney must be thoroughly committed to the organizations mission. In addition they must possess:​​

• J.D. from an accredited law school and be admitted to practice law in Michigan.

• One to five years of experience in the practice of law

• Experience in housing law and civil litigation preferred.

• Ability to be self-motivated and to work independently.

• Ability to evaluate evidence and determine whether legal standards have been met.

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Ability to apply legal standards to factual situations.

• Ability to guide non-lawyers with application of legal standards.

 

Specifics

• Full-time position. Attorney will represent clients in court or at virtual hearings as determined by the Court and by UCHC; and will also work in Detroit at the UCHC office and occasionally work from home. 

• Salary commensurate with experience. UCHC offers generous medical benefits and time off.

• Schedule: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, though some additional time may be required, depending on court filings. 

• Expected start date:  As soon as possible.

• Position open until filled; all candidates should be fully vaccinated or tested once a week for COVID-19.

​

​