CAREERS

Mission

 

Our mission is to engage and advocate for public policies that address and remedy root causes of poverty and fulfill essential human needs for families.

If you are interested in working with us, view the openings below and send your resume to mlshr@milegalservices.org.

  • Organization Name: MLS

    Job Code: SA

    Department: Legal

    Reports To: Director of Legal Services

    FLSA Status: Exempt (Salary)

    Prepared Date: December 1, 2023

    Job Purpose:

    The Staff Attorney will work under the direction of the Executive Director and Director of Legal Services of Michigan Legal Services. The ideal staff attorney will have excellent writing, communication, and problem-solving skills. They will be able to work both independently and collaboratively and thrive in a fast-paced environment. The staff attorney will possess sound legal judgment, have the ability to think creatively, be able to quickly grasp legal issues and factual claims, be compassionate and detail oriented.

    Task:

    Reasonable Accommodations Statement

    To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    Essential Functions

    • Conducting client intake including completion of all necessary forms for clients.

    • Serving clients who will potentially need a variety of types of legal assistance including, but not limited to, Tax Foreclosure Prevention counseling, Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention counseling, Landlord-Tenant counseling and Eviction Prevention assistance, and Land Contract counseling.

    • Providing Court Representation which may include physical as well as remote appearances in the state and federal courts and in related administrative proceedings, in addition to the preparation of pleadings.

    • Maintaining client confidentiality under all circumstances.

    • Interacting with other staff to advise on and/or facilitate the execution of the organization's programmatic and/or operational initiatives.

    • Drafting and filing legal documents with the appropriate government agencies.

    • Collecting and tracking necessary documents for client service and reporting

    • Drafting correspondence to clients and government agencies.

    • Participating in various organization staff meetings.

    • Providing other assistance that may be necessary to further the goals of the program or the organization.

    • The attorney will represent clients in court or at virtual hearings as determined by the Court and by MLS; and also, will work at the MLS office.

    • Performing other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or Director of Legal Services of Michigan Legal Services

    Physical Demands

    The employee is to occasionally Stand; Walk; Climb or balance; Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; the employee is to regularly Sit; Use hands to finger, handle, or feel; Reach with hands and arms; Talk or hear.

    Visions

    Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision; Distance vision; Peripheral vision; Depth perception; Ability to adjust focus.

    Qualifications
    Years of Experience and Education Required

    • J.D. from an accredited law school and admitted to practice in Michigan.

    • At least one year’s experience in the practice of law, experience in housing law and civil litigation preferred.

    • Ability to be self-motivated and to work independently.

    • Ability to evaluate evidence and determine whether legal standards have been met.

    • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

    • Ability to apply legal standards to factual situations.

    • Ability to guide non-lawyers with application of legal standards

  • Job Code: LAH

    Department: Legal

    Reports To: Director of Legal Support Services

    FLSA Code: Nonexempt - Hourly

    Overview:

    The Legal Assistant Housing will work in cooperation with the legal staff of Michigan Legal Services (MLS) and others to address eviction cases and other landlord/tenant matters.

    Reasonable Accommodations Statement

    To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    Essential Functions

    • Interview clients who have a pending eviction or other landlord/tenant-related issues.

    • Draft correspondence to clients and appropriate government agencies

    • Prepare intake paperwork in a timely, complete, and accurate manner.

    • Assist clients in addressing the landlord/tenant issue.

    • Coordinate with social services workers to resolve issues with the state and ensure that our clients are supported effectively.

    • Draft letters to landlords, housing inspectors, and various governmental offices

    • Draft pleadings for court under the supervision of staff attorneys

    • Perform other landlord/tenant-related tasks as assigned by the executive director or program coordinator.

    • Perform legal research.

    • Collect and track documents for client projects.

    • Assist with administrative tasks as needed.

    • Maintain confidentiality of client information

    • Refer cases in need of legal help or with more complex issues to appropriate legal staff and redirect issues beyond legal scope to appropriate MLS staff.

    • Maintain case and contact records in suitable files for efficiency of communication.

    • Be aware of the programs and policies of MLS and external programs that provide comprehensive assistance to our clients.

    • Perform other housing-related tasks as needed and as assigned by the executive director.

    • Understanding and becoming proficient in Justice Server.

    Qualifications:

    Successful candidates will believe in MLS’s mission and demonstrate a passion for driving the organization’s growth. They will also have:

    • HSD Required. A bachelor’s degree or associate degree preferred in social services.

    • 1 -2 years of Legal Assistant experience is preferred.

    • Excellent writing, research, and organizational skills, with a strong attention to detail.

    • Experience with Microsoft Office and intermediate computer literacy.

    • The ability to learn quickly and to balance multiple projects at once.

    • Displays original thinking and creativity and meets challenges with resourcefulness.

    • Requires a courteous, patient individual with the ability to work calmly under stress, understanding the environment of change, deadlines, and interruptions.

    • Good oral, math, and written communications skills.

    • Ability to problem solve effectively.

    • Good organizational skills and accuracy.

    Physical Demands and Working Environment
    The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

    Environment/Physical:
    Standard office setting. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

    Vision:
    See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents.

    Hearing:
    Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

 

  • WHY?

    Thousands of Detroit families risk losing their homes because they are unable to afford the taxes, rent, mortgage payment, utility bills, and home repairs due to financial hardship and other economic factors.

    Financial assistance is available, but many citizens are unaware of the resources, struggle with completing applications, and do not understand their legal rights.

    WHAT?

    Michigan Legal Services, United Community Housing Coalition, and Law Schools across the country have maintained productive relationships for years. The Law Clerk position is a great opportunity for our entities to partner with Law Schools and Law Students to provide the students with real-world law experience, while helping citizens remain in their homes.

    Law students in the program can participate in the following way with Michigan Legal Services, and United Community Housing Coalition.

    Paid Law Clerk at MLS/UCHC

    Law students will support MLS/UCHC’s eviction prevention work. Students are expected to come into the MLS/UCHC offices for work at 2727 2nd Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

    What is required?

    • Minimum 12-week commitment per semester.

    • Minimum 12 hours per week during regular business hours 9 am – 5 pm.

    • At least one 4-hour shift on eviction docket held Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings at MLS/UCHC offices, or 36th District Court.

    • All court work is done virtually at MLS/UCHC offices, and in-person at the 36th District Court.

    Who is eligible?

    • 2L, enrolled in or completed Professional Responsibility course.

    • In good academic standing

    Legal work to be experienced?

    • Drafting pleadings

    • Opportunity to appear on eviction dockets in the 36th District Court.

    • Conducting client intake

    • Legal research, probate work, and land contract work

    How to apply?

    Submit Cover Letter and Resume to mlshr@milegalservices.org