SUPERVISING ATTORNEY – HOUSING UNIT

The Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSM), a subsidiary of South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS), a non-profit legal services program providing free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents, seeks a Supervising Attorney to develop and lead the advocacy staff of the Housing team.

Reporting to the Program Manager of the JCSM and collaborating with the Directing Attorney of Housing Advocacy, the Supervising Attorney will work with the organization’s leadership team, a talented advocacy staff, and an engaged statewide advocacy community to strategically provide critical legal services to eligible clients of the region.

About the Organization:

SCCLS and its subsidiary, the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSM), with a combined staff of nearly 80, is the principal provider of free, civil legal aid to low-income residents of Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. SCCLS law offices are in Hyannis, New Bedford and Fall River. The Justice Center is located in Brockton. The organization’s core mission is to achieve justice for eligible clients through community-based advocacy and the delivery of legal services in the following priority areas: housing, public benefits, elder law, domestic relations, employment, education, immigration, and consumer matters.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement an articulated vision for housing (in collaboration with the Directing Attorney of Housing Advocacy) that includes high quality direct legal representation and addressing underlying systemic issues; maintain a small and strategic caseload;
• Supervise overall work of housing unit advocacy staff; assist in developing/revising standards of practice and ensure adherence to program and case handling standards, funder requirements and the highest professional standards using regular case review and other supervision standards and practices to develop the skills of the advocacy staff and ensure their professional development;
• Effectively engage with the organization’s leadership team, advocacy staff, community groups and organizations, and the statewide justice community to develop and manage strategic initiatives, community needs assessments, and to respond to emerging trends and changing policies affecting clients with housing issues;
• Develop, support, and oversee the litigation of the housing team;
• Collaborate with the Directing Attorney of Housing Advocacy and the statewide housing advocacy community to advance special projects that systemically advance housing justice needs;
• Ensure advocacy staff is actively engaged with other program advocates, local community groups and organizations, and the statewide advocacy community to identify and address legal issues confronting our diverse and low income communities; develop housing law team expertise;
• Work with appropriate staff to pursue new funding opportunities, prepare grant applications and reports, and monitor compliance.

Qualifications and Experience:

Admitted to practice in MA, or able to seek admission; minimum 5 years of legal practice with substantive expertise in housing law issues; understanding or experience with intersecting systems affecting client communities;

• Significant experience with advocacy in a variety of forums including federal, state, and appellate courts, administrative agencies, and/or legislative bodies; ability and will to lead and advance the housing law practice
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills and a leadership style that inspires and encourages professional growth in others, including demonstrated ability to supervise across differences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to foster inclusivity, equity and humility when working with clients, colleagues and in supervising staff at the intersection of multiple identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, religion, physical and mental disability, and/or limited English proficiency.
• Ability to engage effectively in person and remotely with people from diverse cultures, with diverse opinions and values, including with staff, volunteers, students, community members and funders.
• Capacity to facilitate groups and meetings equitably with a framework that embraces race equity principles.
• Commitment to race equity, anti-racism and economic justice in the workplace and in providing legal services.
• Fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole, or Haitian Creole desirable.

Compensation and Benefits:

JCSM salaries are based on a collective bargaining agreement scale enhanced for supervisory role, includes yearly standard increases, multi-lingual increment for demonstrated language skills. This position is not part of the collective bargaining unit. Starting Benefits package: health and dental with supplemental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b), loan forgiveness. Generous paid leave including sick, vacation, personal and holidays.

Apply:

Submit letter of interest, resume and legal writing sample by email to: LThelin@sccls.org with Subject Line: JCSM Supv Atty Hous. Application reviews will begin immediately.

 

South Coastal Counties Legal Services and its subsidiary are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We strive to foster a healthy, inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members are valued, empowered and recognized.