Attorney: Housing Unit- SCCLS
The Organization:
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS), along with its subsidiary the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, is a vibrant and growing non-profit legal aid program where our core mission is to fight injustice and poverty by advocating on behalf of low-income individuals and families across Southeastern Massachusetts, the Cape, and Islands in civil matters when their basic needs are at stake. The organization prioritizes legal services in housing, public benefits, elder law, domestic relations, employment, education, immigration, and consumer matters.
With a staff of over 100, SCCLS is the principal provider of civil legal aid in the region. We operate from offices in Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Hyannis. Our team provides representation and litigation services to thousands of people each year, while also delivering a wide range of community outreach and educational programs. We seek candidates who are committed to advancing equal access to justice and opportunity through client-centered advocacy. This is an opportunity to join a collaborative, mission-driven team dedicated to delivering impactful legal services to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
The Role:
South Coastal Counties Legal Services (SCCLS) seeks to hire a Housing Staff Attorney to work within its robust and dynamic housing unit. The housing unit is committed to ensuring that individuals and families throughout southeast Massachusetts have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. The housing unit furthers this mission through the provision of high-quality direct representation to individuals in summary process (eviction) proceedings, challenges to public and subsidized housing denials, and termination of housing benefits matters. The unit also represents individuals by affirmatively filing legal actions to ensure safe and habitable housing, to remediate discriminatory conduct, and to recover terminated subsidies. In addition to direct representation, the housing unit engages in appellate advocacy, community outreach and education, and staffs the Lawyer for the Day Program in the Southeast Housing Court. This position will be based out of our Hyannis Law Office.
Responsibilities include:
•Provide high quality zealous legal representation, counsel and/or referrals;
•Participate in, or conduct, community education and outreach;
•Participate in team meetings; identify and participate in impact advocacy projects;
•Engage in continuous learning in housing law;
•Participate in other program activities to further organizational goals and mission.
Competencies/Qualifications:
•Admitted in MA, eligible for admission in MA, or sitting for the July 2026 bar exam;
•Demonstrated commitment or experience working with diverse communities, including experience representing clients who may have experienced poverty, trauma or discrimination;
•Strong organizational, time management and case management skills;
•Strong oral and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills;
•Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team; ability to be flexible and adapt to client situations and changing program conditions;
Proficiency or ability to learn legal case management systems, Microsoft Office Suite;
Fluency in a language reflecting our client populations preferred (e.g. Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Vietnamese, Khmer);
Prior housing law experience preferred.
Compensation and Benefits:
Salaries are based on a collective bargaining agreement scale starting at $72,500 with yearly standard increases, and an annual increment for demonstrated language skills. Generous benefits package includes health and dental with supplemental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b), and loan forgiveness. Generous paid leave including sick, vacation, personal, and holidays.
Apply:
For full consideration, submit: letter of interest, resume, writing sample and references to LThelin@sccls.org with subject: Housing HYLO Application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
South Coastal Counties Legal Services and its subsidiary are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We strive to foster a healthy, inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members are valued, empowered and recognized.
