Description:

Position Overview:
UCHC staff attorneys work under the direction of the Executive Director and the Director of Legal Services. Ideal candidates have excellent writing, communication, and problem-solving skills. They must be able to work both independently and collaboratively and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Candidates must have sound legal judgment and the ability to think creatively, be able to quickly grasp legal issues and factual claims, and be compassionate and detail-oriented. Candidates must also have the ability to work well with a variety of people, including clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds, as well as the ability to meet deadlines and manage caseloads effectively.

Responsibilities:
UCHC staff attorneys 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 state and federal court 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 colleagues.
Providing other assistance that may be necessary to further the goals of the program or the organization.
Performing other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or the Director of Legal Services.

Preferred Qualifications:
Staff attorneys must be thoroughly committed to UCHC's mission. In addition, qualified candidates must have:

J.D. from an accredited law school and be admitted to practice law in Michigan.
One to five years of experience practicing law.
Experience in housing law and civil litigation.
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.
Staff attorneys will represent clients in court or in virtual hearings as determined by the court and by UCHC. Attorneys will also work in UCHC's Detroit-based office and occasionally work from home.