Staff Attorney: Fair Housing

Agency Description

Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the only organization that provides free legal advocacy services to people with all types of disabilities, of all ages, throughout North Carolina. We are NC’s designated Protection and Advocacy agency and recognized leader in advancing disability rights with a strong staff and supportive, dynamic work environment. DRNC is committed to building race equity into our internal and external work. DRNC is well established and positioned for growth. Learn more about DRNC on our website.

Job Description

DRNC has an immediate opening for a full-time staff attorney on the HOME Team to work on Housing issues. HOME team work centers around ensuring people with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, work, and participate in their communities. In our Fair Housing work, DRNC helps disabled people who have been discriminated against related to their housing needs. The housing attorney will advocate on behalf of and/or represent North Carolinians with disabilities who have experienced illegal housing discrimination. For example, we are often able to help people gain and maintain housing opportunities by educating tenants and landlords about the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) and landlords’ responsibilities to grant reasonable accommodations and modifications. The housing attorney’s work will include research and analysis of disability-related civil rights laws as well as individual and systemic representation to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities who have been denied equal access to housing, programs, and public places. The candidate must be licensed in North Carolina and have Fair Housing and landlord-tenant law experience.

Job Duties include

• Represents individual clients consistent with DRNC’s annual targets and selection criteria, including the development and implementation of all phases of case strategies and activities—e.g., client communications, negotiation, mediation, representation in legal proceedings, and systemic advocacy and litigation
• Provides legal advice and assistance to DRNC’s clients, including writing letters and memoranda and drafting pleadings on behalf of DRNC’s clients
• Analyzes and interprets federal and state laws, rulings and regulations to stay abreast of legal developments in disability civil rights laws, and other related law/ethical fields
• Analyzes statutes, regulations, and agency policies/procedures and drafts analyses and comments, as appropriate, in collaboration with DRNC policy staff
• Provides technical assistance to attorneys and advocates regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities
• Assists in the planning and development of DRNC’s program priorities and develops work plans, as assigned
• Prepares and reviews reports, amicus briefs, articles and special projects, drafts legislation and proposed regulations, as assigned
• Prepares written materials and conducts activities for the education and training of consumers, coalition partners, professionals, DRNC staff, members of the public, and others consistent with DRNC’s annual targets
• Cultivates, develops and maintains relationships with subject area professionals and advocates, including state officials and agency staff, providers, advocacy organizations, pro bono attorneys, and community advocates
• Represents DRNC at coalition meetings, public hearings, stakeholder groups, and/or task forces
• Maintains complete and accurate records in DRNC’s case management system consistent with agency policies and procedures

Requirements

• JD degree and admitted to practice law in North Carolina
• Demonstrated interest and commitment to public interest law and/or the rights of persons with disabilities
• Ability to work collaboratively with co-workers as well as independently when needed

Desirable qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience representing clients in Fair Housing and/or eviction cases
• Life experience with disability
• Civil litigation experience
• Familiarity with the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Acts
• Experience in a legal services, nonprofit or public interest environment
• Ability to communicate in ASL, Spanish or another non-English language
• Understanding of trauma and its prevalence among people with disabilities, valuing and using trauma-informed approaches

Disability Rights NC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment with regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Individuals who increase the diversity of our team are encouraged to apply. We participate in E-verify.

DRNC offers an employee-friendly work environment and compensation package that is competitive with other non-profits. The staff attorney salary range is $63,000 – $114,100, based on experience. DRNC offers excellent benefits including 100% employer-paid health, dental, vision, life and disability as well as generous paid time off, flexible work environment, and retirement plan with an employer match.

Send a detailed letter of interest explaining your qualifications and interest in the position and resume to: resumes.hr@disabilityrightsnc.org. Include Staff Housing Attorney HOME Team in the subject line of your email. No phone calls please.

Closing Date: Position will remain open until filled.