Senior Supervising Attorney - Fair Housing - Community Legal Aid & Affiliate

Community Legal Aid (CLA) is the non-profit legal services program providing free civil legal assistance to low-income and elderly residents of central and western Massachusetts. CLA has over 150 dedicated, talented staff working across multiple offices. Our core work includes effective client-centered advocacy and robust outreach to and partnerships with our client communities. CLA is a fiscally sound, administratively strong agency supported by a dedicated staff, management team, and Board of Directors.

CLA seeks a Senior Supervising Attorney (SSA) to join its management team and oversee the work of CLA's Fair Housing Unit. The SSA will supervise the legal work of advocates who raise housing discrimination claims on behalf of tenants filing affirmative cases, defending against evictions, and seeking to access or maintain affordable housing. This supervision will include co-counseling cases, editing pleadings and briefs, preparing attorneys for and observing them in court, and engaging in regular case reviews. The SSA will supervise non-attorney staff who support the unit and run CLA's fair housing testing program. The SSA will also participate in coordinating the training of staff; work with CLA's Managing Attorneys in conducting annual performance reviews; and assist in writing grant applications and reports.

The candidate should be committed to developing and coordinating systems to ensure that CLA's fair housing team is properly supervised and supported, and that all grant deliverables are met. The candidate should be an independent thinker and have the ability to calmly and thoughtfully oversee a team that works in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment which can often be stressful for advocates.

The SSA will be based in CLA's Worcester or Springfield office. The position will require the SSA to travel to CLA's offices in central and western Mass. as needed, including regular visits to Worcester and Springfield to meet in person with staff and support them in court.

QUALIFICATIONS: Admission to Mass. Bar or entitlement to practice under a Mass. practice rule required. Must have at least five years of experience as a housing attorney, including experience litigating fair housing cases in state and federal court. Experience with low-income populations; ability to work collaboratively; and strong supervision and communication skills required.

COMPENSATION: Salary DOE. CLA offers a very generous benefits package that includes 401(k) with employer-paid contribution; low-cost health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents; malpractice insurance; paid leave (4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, and 13 holidays); and relocation stipend.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please apply on our website. Alternatively, you can submit your cover letter and resume to: avaughan@cla-ma.org, or mail to Alicia Vaughan, Human Resources Director, Community Legal Aid, 370 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608.

CLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. CLA encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.