Staff Attorney; Practice - NDS Detroit

Overview

THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office in Detroit, Michigan. We are expanding our Housing Defense Practice to decrease housing insecurity and safeguard our clients’ right to secure and/or maintain stable housing while addressing the destabilization and disintegration of Detroit’s diverse communities. Building on 30 years of experience, we are expanding our efforts to bring the same caliber of representation to the residents of the City of Detroit.

We are seeking a highly organized, self-driven, and resilient individual dedicated to our mission.

NDS Detroit adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs while a case is pending and after the case concludes. NDS Detroit is committed to addressing the comprehensive legal and social service needs of clients while treating each client with dignity and respect.

The ideal Housing Defense Attorney is an experienced attorney who demonstrates a commitment to serving marginalized persons and communities, preferably with experience in a public defender office or fast-paced legal services organization. The Housing Defense Attorney will help shape our present and future—contributing to a collaborative environment and culture of excellence in alignment with our values. At NDS Detroit, how we represent our clients is as important as individual case outcomes, and our ideal Housing Defense Attorney approaches the cultivation of a positive office culture and the representation of indigent clients with equal rigor and commitment.

• Embody NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence.
• Provide vigorous advocacy work with energy and enthusiasm to clients and their families in the City of Detroit who face housing insecurity.
• Perform client intakes, complete the Housing Defense Intake form, Legal Analysis Summary, Retainer Agreement and Client Income Attestation, complete and file Appearance with the court as necessary.
• Engage in frequent court appearances and litigation, including legal arguments, hearings, and trials.
• File motions, briefs, and other pleadings and make oral arguments in-person and virtually on a frequent, timely basis.
• Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations, hearings, and trials.
• Advocate for clients to access and obtain benefits, subsidies, and other services to resolve Housing Court proceedings.
• Interview clients by phone, in person, and through virtual means; conduct legal research and write pre-pleading letters, emails, pleadings, motions, and memoranda on behalf of clients.
• Coordinate work performed by team members (social worker, client advocates, and team administrator).
• Work with cross-practice colleagues (criminal/civil defense) to obtain positive and comprehensive legal outcomes for clients.
• Perform community outreach representing NDS Detroit Housing Defense at community-based initiatives on housing issues on a bi-weekly basis.
• Contribute ideas in the development of forms, processes, and procedures to implement within the housing defense team.
• Meet reporting requirements entering casenotes in client database for each client daily, submitting daily work log to the team administrator and supervising attorney daily.
• Scan, upload and save court forms and other case documents to client files daily.
• Identify community resources/agencies for client referrals.

• A demonstrated commitment to indigent defense, racial equity, housing and social justice issues, involving the City of Detroit.
• Experience with landlord/tenant, subsidized housing, and foreclosures.
• Knowledge regarding rapidly changing executive orders and agency policies, particularly eviction moratoriums and eviction diversion programs, both state and federal.
• A track record of strategically guiding casework, projects and/or relationships; applying good and practiced judgment; and routinely pushing through roadblocks to achieve goals.
• An ability to quickly build relationships across varying identities, income levels, races and ethnicities.
• A high level of organizational,…