Staff Attorney

LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MISSOURI
STAFF ATTORNEY – HOUSING
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
 
Legal Aid seeks a full-time staff attorney for its Housing Team at our Central Office in Kansas City, Missouri.  The Housing Team represents low-income tenants who have been served with a court eviction in Kansas City and in administrative actions to protect the rights of tenants residing in subsidized HUD-assisted housing units.  An attorney in this position needs to be comfortable with public speaking, being in court multiple days a week, managing short deadlines, and working with populations in crisis.  The primary duties include:  (1) representation of tenants who exercise their right to counsel under the Kansas City Ordinance, (2) representation of subsidized HUD-assisted housing tenants in administrative meetings and hearings, (3) collect and evaluate evidence, draft answers, motions for summary judgment or to dismiss, affirmative defenses, and counterclaims, (4) negotiate settlement agreements and work with rental assistance providers, (5) handle oral arguments and bench trials, (6) work efficiently with paralegals to accomplish tasks on their cases, and (7) collaborate with other members of the team and our partner agencies to cover hearings, create form templates, and uniform responses to certain issues affecting our clients.
The qualified candidate must have the following: 
 

• Active Missouri Bar license or eligible for licensure in Missouri through reciprocity
• Computer proficiency
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Desire and commitment to assist in the delivery of high-quality legal assistance
• Ability to speak a second language, preferred, but not required
• Courtroom experience, preferred
• Experience handling housing cases is preferred, but not required

• Medical Plans with PPO or HSA options
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical or dependent care
• Health Savings Accounts
• Paid CLE and Bar Dues
• Paid Time Off:  Vacation, Sick, Personal and Holidays
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
• Travel and parking reimbursement
• 401k and up to 3.5% employer match