Deputy Director, Tenant Justice Program

Rising for Justice (“RFJ”) invites applications for the Deputy Director of its Tenant Justice Program (TJP). TJP provides a range of legal services from same-day limited scope representation to extended representation to income-eligible tenants with eviction cases or who are in jeopardy of eviction. Reporting to the Director of the TJP or RFJ’s Executive’s Director’s designee, this position provides oversight to TJP staff to ensure conformity with organizational policies and to serve as a model of excellent workplace practices. This is a management position and is part of RFJ’s senior leadership team.

Responsibilities:

• Chairing RFJ’s Housing Practice Case Acceptance Committee, coordinating litigation strategy and priorities and managing case assignments and case referrals according to established standards;

• Managing RFJ’s participation in the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network (LTLAN), the central intake system for potential eviction defense cases and other housing matters;

• Supervising a team of staff attorneys and paralegals involved in the representation of income eligible DC residents with housing matters that have or may result in evictions;

• Meeting with staff at least bi-weekly to review the status of all case-related work in accordance with established case practice standards;

• Attending bi-weekly meetings of RFJ’s Housing Advocacy and Litigation Clinic (HALC) and weekly classes for law students;

• Teaching classes in litigation skills to clinic participants, participating in trial simulations and moot exercises, and developing lesson plans and curriculum in collaboration with HALC staff and TJP Director;

• Providing direct attorney services as appropriate, including extended and limited scope representation and brief services and co-counseling cases in accordance with established workload expectations;

• Designing and managing RFJ’s in-house TJP staff training program in consultation with the TJP Director;

• Working in tandem with other RFJ advocacy units to achieve best outcomes for clients;

• Overseeing the collection and accuracy of all case-related data, including data entered in Qualtrics;

• Serving as a liaison with other legal services providers, attending collaborative meetings and coordinating services with outside organizations; and

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• JD with at least 6 years of combined litigation, management, and/or supervisory experience.

• Must be a member of the DC Bar or eligible to waive into the DC Bar.

• A strong work ethic, client-centered approach to advocacy, and an innovator with excellent communications and organizational skills.

• Experience working with low-income and vulnerable populations, clinical teaching background, familiarity with housing law, and fluency in Spanish are preferred.