Staff Attorney: Housing and Homelessness – CWJC

Central West Justice Center (CWJC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Community Legal Aid (CLA), seeks a staff attorney to work in its Worcester office. Together, CWJC and CLA have over 140 dedicated, talented staff working across multiple offices in Central and Western Massachusetts. Our core work includes effective client-centered advocacy and robust outreach to and partnerships with our client communities.

The staff attorney will represent tenants in eviction cases, tenants facing denials or terminations from public and subsidized housing programs, and families appealing denials or terminations from the state’s emergency assistance homeless shelter program. The staff attorney will regularly participate in a Housing Court lawyer-for-the day program. The staff attorney will also assist with grant-writing and reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS:  Admission to Massachusetts Bar or entitled to practice under a Massachusetts practice rule. Experience in landlord-tenant and shelter work preferred, as is fluency in Spanish. Administrative agency advocacy experience helpful. A demonstrated dedication to social justice, sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse backgrounds, and commitment to working with low-income communities are important. Third-year law students, recent law graduates, and more experienced attorneys are all welcome to apply.

COMPENSATION: The starting salary for this position is $62,500, which is based on a union scale and adjusted upward depending on experience. 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 submit your cover letter and resume through email to avaughan@cla-ma.org OR by 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.

CLA has a hybrid workplace and requires all employees to be fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing.