Staff Attorney Position
(Breaking Barriers to Employment Project)
NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP), a private, non-profit law firm that provides free, high quality civil
legal services to low-income residents of the District of Columbia, seeks a Staff Attorney to support its multidisciplinary “Breaking Barriers to Employment” Project. The Staff Attorney will seek to remove barriers that
hinder low-income job-seekers in obtaining or retaining employment. In addition to providing legal advice and
representation, the Staff Attorney will help implement collaborative education and outreach projects with the
DC Public Library (DCPL), as described below. This Project expands NLSP’s strategic focus on
overcoming employment obstacles and is funded by a City Fund grant.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Provides informational and legal services across a diverse spectrum
of substantive areas to remove barriers to employment. Such barriers include, but are not limited to:
denials of employment based on criminal records, arrest or credit reports, denials of professional licenses,
suspensions of drivers’ licenses, excessive wage garnishments, child support arrearages, and the civil
collateral consequences of incarceration; uses a variety of advocacy tools, including: negotiation,
litigation, community education, media advocacy and collaborations with other community-based
partners; conducts legal information workshops and consultations for job seekers in DC Public Library
branches; actively participates as a member of the NLSP team; adheres to NLSP policies, procedures and
standards of practice, as well as the highest professional and ethical standards; other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Member in good standing of the DC Bar or eligible for admission; at least 2 years of
practice required (relevant clinical experience may count); demonstrated commitment to serving lowincome persons; capacity to handle a diverse spectrum of substantive legal issues and advocacy; excellent
written and verbal communication skills; able to reach diverse audiences; strong interpersonal skills and
the ability to work well with teams; prior litigation experience; written and oral proficiency in Spanish
highly desirable.
Supervision: The Staff Attorney will report to NLSP’s Pro Bono Counsel and NLSP Managing Attorneys.
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign duties and responsibilities to this
job, or reassign duties and responsibilities, at any time.
Salaries and Benefits: Salary depends upon experience; generous employee benefit package; potential eligibility
for Loan Repayment Assistance Program of the DC Bar Foundation.
Application Process: Interested persons should send a letter of interest, resume, names of three professional/
educational references and writing sample by email to: Attorney Search Committee at nlsp@nlsp.org. Please
indicate the position you are interested in and reference that position in the subject line. This position will remain
open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
NLSP is an Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of the Neighborhood Legal Services Program that no employee or applicant for employment or
services will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual
orientation, political affiliation, family responsibilities or family status, veteran’s status, or any other basis
prohibited by law, including the DC Human Rights Act and Language Access Act.
Neighborhood Legal Services Program
680 Rhode Island Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 832-NLSP (6577) www.nlsp.org