Description:
Job Overview:The Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Help Center is a collaboration between the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. The Help Center provides self-represented litigants with information and limited legal advice to help them better advocate for themselves in the court system. The Help Center, with the assistance of many partners, is now able to expand to provide limited legal representation in court to citizens facing eviction proceedings in Hamilton County Municipal Court.
The Help Center is looking to hire an attorney for a fellowship program focused on eviction prevention and same-day limited legal representation of tenants. The chosen fellow will gain hands-on experience in legal advocacy, collaborate closely with attorneys, and build networks of community resources to support clients. The fellowship includes robust training, mentorship, and professional development, offering powerful public service experience and insight into systemic justice work. The initial employment contract will last a period of twenty-four months and may be extended upon the agreement of the parties, subject to available funding.
This is a new position created to help manage and implement an expansion of the Help Center's program to bring same-day limited legal representation to Hamilton County tenants facing eviction. The chosen fellow will assist in development of the limited representation program; help represent clients directly; and supervise law students representing clients and volunteers working with the limited representation program.
A successful candidate for this fellowship will be a motivated self-starter who is able to think on their feet and work with a varying client group. The chosen fellow will spend a significant portion of their time advocating for tenants in court and should possess strong trial advocacy and negotiation skills.
Essential Functions:
- Provide limited same-day legal representation to tenants in eviction court.
- Provide consultations to Help Center visitors to help them understand the law/court processes, draft written pleadings, prepare for hearings and otherwise resolve eviction related issues.
- Supervise and educate law students and volunteer attorneys providing limited representation in eviction court.
- Assist with outcome tracking.
- Draft and improve model pleadings.
- Prepare self-help materials to assist self-represented litigants understand the law, court processes and litigate their cases.
- Work to identify solutions to address systemic issues faced by self-represented litigants.
- Help to recruit, train, and supervise student interns and attorney volunteers.
- May provide direct and/or indirect supervision to exempt and non-exempt staff (i.e., hiring/firing, performance evaluations, disciplinary action, approve time off, etc.).
- Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.
Required Education:
Juris Doctorate
Required Trainings/Certifications
Active license to practice law in Ohio, or currently eligible for permanent admission to Ohio without examination.
Additional Qualifications Considered
- Experience with eviction litigation, small claims, and various municipal civil matters.
- Experience with foreclosure defense, civil protection orders, and/or state court appeals matters.
- Experience and/or demonstrated skill development in trial advocacy and negotiation.
- A demonstratable commitment to serving underserved and vulnerable individuals.
- Experience building community partnerships.
- Foreign language abilities.
Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.
