Staff Attorney - Homeownership Rights

NACBA; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

NACBA seeks a Staff Attorney specializing in Homeownership Rights to provide legal services for older, low-income homeowners facing foreclosure. The role encompasses client representation, community outreach, and education, focusing on ensuring access to justice and legal support for vulnerable populations.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor required.
• Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing.
• Experience in courtroom practice preferred.

Responsibilities

• Handle all aspects of client representation including screening and interviewing clients.
• Conduct legal education workshops for older homeowners.
• Provide civil legal assistance in mortgage foreclosure and probate matters.

Skills

Advocacy

Negotiating

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational Skills

Presentation Skills

Education

Juris Doctor

Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar

Job description

Position Summary:
The Staff Attorney, Homeownership Rights provides direct legal services to and engages in education
and advocacy on behalf of older low-income or vulnerable homeowners facing foreclosure, tangled
title or other situations putting their home at risk.

Role-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related

- Handle all aspects of client representation, including, but not limited to:
-screening and interviewing walk-in and/or emergency clients
-conducting client interviews by telephone or in person to give legal opinion or recommend a case
is accepted for further services
-filing necessary court documents timely
-analyzing facts to prepare appropriate case strategies
-preparing for all court appearances
-assessing holistic legal needs of clients and make referrals internally and externally
-providing technical assistance to staff and volunteer attorneys

-Handle case-related tasks including but not limited to:
-retrieving, transcribing, and performing prescreen data entry in the case management system as
needed
-preparing and mailing retainers and letters,
drafting court documents
-communicating with clients or third parties via telephone, email, text message or other by other
means
- preparing case files for hearing/trial

- maintaining case files and case management database
-conducting home visits to frail or homebound clients
-handling other case or client related tasks as necessary

- Utilize Language line or other interpretation services for Limited English Proficient (LEP)
older adults.
- Provide information and referrals to older homeowners, linking them to other resources and
supportive services, including emergency financial assistance, support groups, health services and
other resources.

Community Outreach and Education

- Represent SeniorLAW Center at professional committees/coalitions related to homeowners issues to
advocate for better services and access to justice for older homeowners.
- Develop and present legal education workshops to older homeowners.
- Aid in the development of educational materials and resources for older homeowners and “best
practices” resources for professionals.
- Aid in planning, organizing, and attending community outreach and tabling events.
- Assist with community clinics focused on older homeowners.
- Coordinate with Project Director to update website, E-News, and other communication tools with
project related information.

Additional Responsibilities:

- Participate in scheduled project related meetings.
- Participate in staff and Legal team meetings.
- Provide support to other colleagues agency wide as needed.
- Assist with on-boarding staff as needed.
- Become knowledgeable of and follow all SeniorLAW Center’s personnel and legal policies and
procedures.
- Demonstrate and model commitment to SeniorLAW Center’s mission and values.
- Participate in SeniorLAW Center’s culture of philanthropy and events to support the
organization.
- Assist with quality control and case management data collection and reporting as
necessary.
- Other responsibilities to further mission of the project and organization.

Project-Based Duties and Responsibilities:

Client-related
- Provide civil legal assistance to older homeowners, including, but not limited to:
-representing homeowners in mortgage foreclosure diversion court.
-representing homeowners defending mortgage foreclosure complaints, as assigned by Project
Supervisor.
-representing clients in probate and estate administration or other civil proceeding to untangle
or otherwise clear title.

-filing of and representing older homeowners in other civil legal matters as assigned by Project
Supervisor.
-preparation of deeds to establish or confirm homeownership.
-preparation of Wills and other personal planning documents for older homeowners.
-advice or brief services to older homeowners on a variety of civil legal matters related to
homeownership.

- Provide advocacy and referrals to SeniorLAW Center clients with the primary focus on older
homeowners.
- Other duties as identified by Project Supervisor.

Systemic Advocacy
Identify systemic problems affecting older homeowners and work with our local, statewide and
national partners to develop creative solutions.

Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of
activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties,
responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Education and Experience:
- Juris Doctor
Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing

Preferred Education and Experience:
- Experience consulting older homeowners
- Experience in financing, title, or mortgage foreclosure litigation
- Courtroom experience
- Second language proficiency

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors:
- Must be a motivated self-starter
- Must possess high quality advocacy and negotiating skills
- Highly professional, organized, energetic, flexible, and culturally sensitive
- Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills
- Interest and ability to work with older people and persons of different backgrounds