Part Time Law Clerk Legal Department

SUMMARY

The Law Clerk at the Detroit Housing Commission will support the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). This position is ideal for a current second-year law school student interested in practicing as in-house counsel, public housing, and landlord/tenant law, labor and employment law, real estate development, FOIAs, corporate governance, litigation, insurance, and contract law. The OGC Law Clerk conducts research and assists attorneys on a wide variety of matters, including drafting and editing memoranda, state and federal court pleadings, assisting with eviction and eviction diversion matters in landlord/tenant court (36th District Court), working on Freedom of Information Act requests, assisting with administrative matters (EEOC, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Michigan Employment Relations Commission), attending and observing DHC Board meetings, and preparing summaries for executive leadership.

• Must have completed the first year of law school with a passing grade in law school courses.
• Must be a current law school student in an American Bar Association-accredited law school.

• Must have or be able to acquire a valid state driver’s license.
• Must pass federal, state, and local criminal investigation clearances, and pass a drug screening test administered by the Commission or its designated provider.
• Must be insurable under the agency’s insurance policy.

• Knowledge of common law, city, state, and federal laws, rules of evidence, and judicial procedures
• Knowledge of legal terminology, the formats of a variety of legal documents, legal processes and procedures, and court/hearing rules, records, procedures and protocol
• Knowledge of Housing & Urban Development Public Housing regulations and policies pertinent to the department
• Knowledge of HUD programs, requirements, and policies/procedures
• Knowledge of DHC and departmental policies, procedures, and goals
• Knowledge of standard office procedures, filing, and standard office equipment, including computer, fax, copier, telephone system
• Knowledge of basic office practices, procedures, and equipment
• Knowledge of ADA, FLSA, COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA, TITLE VII, EEO, Workers' Compensation, FCRA
• Knowledge of labor and employment law
• Knowledge of traditional and electronic legal research methods
• Knowledge of contract law
• Knowledge of consumer bankruptcy law
• Knowledge of real estate and development law
• Basic knowledge of privacy laws and federal and state
• Knowledge of freedom of information laws

• Maintain confidentiality
• Act independently
• Attend to details
• Analyze situations
• Communicate verbally
• Communicate in writing
• Concentrate
• Empathize
• Identify problems
• Initiate
• Manage pressure
• Motivate
• Organize
• Think creatively
• Desire to serve internal clients and clients’ customers.
• Treat client and client's customers with respect and dignity.

• The ability to work well with diverse populations and stakeholders
• A willingness to learn new substantive areas to meet DHC’s needs
• Build consensus and bridge differences to accomplish organizational goals
• Communicate effectively orally or in writing with relevant stakeholders, internal and external, from a variety of backgrounds
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders to accomplish organizational goals
• Exercise sound judgment in analyzing situations and identifying potential problems within the scope of responsibility
• Maintain confidentiality
• Implement decisions in accordance with established requirements
• Operate a computer to perform various work-related tasks
• Provide high-level customer service both internally and externally
• Read and understand department-specific documentation, policies, and procedures
• Use sound judgment when implementing decisions
• Work under pressure of deadlines
• Use technology to store, retrieve, and compile data, prepare reports, and correspondence
• Analyze and interpret data and reports, formulate recommendations, and make effective decisions
• Anticipate potential issues to develop preventative actions
• Demonstrate and writing skills, exhibiting fluency of ideas and originality
• Establish priorities and deadlines to ensure efficiency
• Exercise…