Cplp Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CPLP is seeking to hire a staff attorney to support existing CPLP staff in providing legal assistance to low-income Coloradans in the areas of housing law and public benefits programs.

The Colorado Poverty Law Project (CPLP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. CPLP’s mission is to improve access to legal services for low-income Coloradans by: providing legal advice and representation to low-income individuals through a combination of our staff attorneys and our substantial volunteer attorney network; educating and counseling individuals and their support organizations on legal issues common to low-income Coloradans; and supporting groups advocating for new protective laws and procedures.

CPLP is looking for a motivated and personable attorney to:

• Perform intake services for individuals seeking advice or representation on housing issues, including conducting client interviews and assembling documentation.
• Provide technical assistance to assist clients in navigating the court system, advocating for their housing rights, and securing other resources where appropriate.
• Provide assistance for clients who were denied public benefits such as SSI and SSDI.
• Coordinate referrals of appropriate clients to CPLP volunteer attorneys.
• Support and guide CPLP volunteers through their representation.
• Perform detailed tracking of cases and data for reporting purposes.
• Represent clients as a lawyer for CPLP.
• Represent clients in mediations for CPLP and engage in mediation trainings and collaborations.
• Prepare training materials for volunteers, conduct training sessions virtually and throughout the community for volunteers, and recruit volunteer attorneys.
• Prepare training materials and Know Your Rights educational seminars for the community, service providers, etc. and conduct those trainings and seminars virtually and throughout the community.
• Maintain and build strong partnerships with community partners and organizers and collaborate with community partners and organizers in furtherance of CPLP’s mission.
• Staff CPLP legal clinics and community events including but not limited to the Larimer County and Denver County Court legal clinics, as well as a variety of community events.
• Collaborate closely with CPLP’s other CPLP attorneys and multidisciplinary team members.
• Work with CPLP staff on crafting policy and identifying opportunities for impact litigation.
• Ability and willingness to travel statewide for legal representation, events, and trainings.
• Ability to work outside of normal office hours, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications

Applicants must have graduated from an accredited law school and have demonstrated a commitment to public interest law. All candidates must already be licensed to practice law in Colorado. The ideal candidate will also have the following qualifications:

• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred.
• Desire to provide representation to indigent tenants needing legal assistance with housing and public benefits issues.
• Detail oriented and strong organizational skills.
• Experience conducting legal intakes for potential clients.
• Ability to carry out all tasks in a trauma-informed and culturally-competent manner.
• Ability to work independently while high level problem solving and to build and maintain strong working relationships with multi-disciplinary team members and community partners.
• Ability to coordinate with CPLP staff and volunteer attorneys to ensure cases are being outsourced to appropriate counsel in a timely manner and cases are properly transitioned.
• Ability to ensure data collection as necessary to track achievement goals for grant reporting purposes.
• A demonstrated ability to analyze and understand current state, federal, and local legislation and orders affecting the rights of tenants, landlords, mortgagors, and mortgagees, including Colorado's F.E.D. statutes, Mobile Home Park Act, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, among others.
• A familiarity with Colorado eviction processes.
• Willingness to perform other tasks as needed to advance Colorado Poverty Law Project's mission to prevent homelessness and secure housing stability for all Coloradans.