Eviction Defense Attorney

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is the federally funded civil legal aid provider for Philadelphia’s indigent community, providing high-volume, high-quality legal services including community education, advice, referral, pro se assistance, and full legal representation in administrative and court proceedings, including all levels of state and federal courts, in the areas of basic human needs: family safety, health, income maintenance, and home preservation.

Philadelphia Legal Assistance is seeking an Eviction Defense Attorney to expand its tenant advocacy as part of Philadelphia’s Right to Counsel initiative. The attorney must be licensed in Pennsylvania and have a strong interest and ability in using litigation as a tool for client relief. The attorney will represent low-income tenants in eviction proceedings as well as provide legal services support to Philadelphia’s Eviction Diversion program.

Responsibilities
The attorney should expect to zealously represent private, public, and subsidized housing tenants in matters involving eviction, illegal lockouts, fair housing violations, termination or loss of subsidy, substandard housing, and discrimination, as well as barriers to stable housing for those with criminal records or domestic or sexual violence issues. The attorney may also engage in occasional affirmative litigation arising from debt collection and consumer protection violations by landlords. Representation includes all the elements of litigation including client interviewing, investigation, discovery, identifying and preparing witnesses and exhibits, pleadings, briefs, and representation at hearings at trial and appellate levels as appropriate in state and federal court. The staff attorney will primarily represent a high volume of individual clients each week in court hearings and administrative hearings. The staff attorney may also provide supervision and support to paralegals who are providing advice, brief service and mediation services as part of their work on the Eviction Diversion Hotline.

The attorney will engage in non-litigation focused advocacy such as organizing and teaching community education sessions related to housing and tenancy. Topics could include lead paint elimination, domestic violence, criminal records, federal housing policy, tenant eviction laws, and preservation of affordable housing.

The staff attorney will work with the Eviction Diversion (EDP) Team at PLA, a project within the Consumer Housing Unit. The attorney will join one supervising attorney, a program coordinator, six Eviction Diversion Hotline paralegals, and a Skadden Fellow whose project will be centered around eviction defense and community education. The attorney will work with the EDP Team to establish connections to partners at community and government agencies and to develop strategies to remove barriers to housing and general access to courts for low-income individuals and families.

Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Requirements:

· Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and admission to the Pennsylvania Bar

· Strong legal judgment and professionalism

· Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills

· Proven litigation and oral advocacy skills

· Demonstrated ability to manage a significant and complex caseload of individual clients

· Strong written and verbal communication skills

· Excellent organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment

Preferred Experience & Skills

· Experience handling complex direct service cases

· Interest or experience in policy advocacy or other forms of systemic reform

· Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with staff at all levels of the organization

· Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a diverse client population

· Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to multitask under pressure

· Spanish language fluency

Commitment to Mission

· Deep commitment to social justice

· Dedication to providing high-quality, compassionate representation to underserved communities

· Creativity, tenacity, and empathy in advancing justice for low-income individuals

· Strong team orientation and a passion for public interest law

Salary and Benefits
Salary is commensurate with years of experience based on union scale. For example, Attorney 1 (less than 1 full year practicing law with bar passage) salary is currently $68500 annually. Attorney VI (five years practicing law) salary is $83500 annually. These salaries will increase by $2500 annually on October 16, 2025. PLA offers a generous benefit package in addition to salary: health insurance premiums paid in full for employee and family, cash incentives for health insurance opt out, vacation, personal, and sick leave, thirteen (13) paid holidays, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution based on years of service, paid parental leave, life insurance and short and long- term disability benefits.

Application Process
Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply. PLA does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, PLA complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume, preferably in one PDF document, to: work@philalegal.org.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the position will be filled as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified