Job Title: Staff Attorney – Housing Defense 

Department: Housing Defense 

Location: Detroit 

Reports To: Supervising Attorney 

Position Type: Full-time 

Union Status: Union eligible 

FLSA Status: Exempt 

About NDS: 

Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) is a national nonprofit public defense organization that pioneered the holistic defense model more than 30 years ago. Founded in Harlem, NDS was built to challenge the traditional public defense model by centering clients, communities, and interdisciplinary advocacy. Today, NDS operates community-based offices in Harlem; the Bronx; Detroit; and Hays County, Texas, supported by a unified national infrastructure that allows local teams to deliver high-quality, responsive representation rooted in the communities they serve. 

Across all locations, NDS provides client-centered legal representation through interdisciplinary teams composed of attorneys, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. Our approach emphasizes early and ongoing engagement with clients—before arrest where possible, throughout the life of a case, and beyond case resolution—while addressing the legal, social, and systemic challenges that impact long-term stability. NDS is committed to treating every client with dignity and respect and to advancing justice for individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized and over-policed. 

Core Purpose of the Role: 
We invite you to join our team as we expand our Housing Defense Practice, where our goal is to decrease housing insecurity and safeguard our clients’ right to secure and/or maintain stable housing while combating the destabilization and disintegration of Detroit’s diverse communities.  We are seeking a highly organized, self-driven, and resilient individual dedicated to our mission. 

The ideal Housing Defense Attorney is an experienced attorney who demonstrates a commitment to serving marginalized persons and communities, preferably with experience in a public defender office or fast-paced legal services organization. The Housing Defense Attorney will help shape our present and future—contributing to a collaborative environment and culture of excellence in alignment with our values. At NDS Detroit, how we represent our clients is as important as individual case outcomes, and our ideal Housing Defense Attorney approaches the cultivation of a positive office culture and the representation of indigent clients with equal rigor and commitment. 

• Embody NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence. 

• Provide vigorous advocacy work with energy and enthusiasm to clients and their families in the City of Detroit who face housing insecurity. 

• Perform client intakes, complete the Housing Defense Intake form, Legal Analysis Summary, Retainer Agreement and Client Income Attestation, complete and file Appearance with the court as necessary. 

• Engage in frequent court appearances and litigation, including legal arguments, hearings, and trials. 

• File motions, briefs, and other pleadings and make oral arguments in-person and virtually on a frequent, timely basis. 

• Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations, hearings, and trials. 

• Advocate for clients to access and obtain benefits, subsidies, and other services to resolve Housing Court proceedings 

• Interview clients by phone, in person and through virtual means, conduct legal research and write pre-pleading letters, emails, pleadings, motions, and memoranda on behalf of clients. 

• Coordinate work performed by team members (social worker, client advocates, and team administrator). 

• Work with cross-practice colleagues (criminal/civil defense) to obtain positive and comprehensive legal outcomes for clients. 

• Perform community outreach representing NDS Detroit Housing Defense at community-based initiatives on housing issues on a bi-weekly basis. 

• Contribute ideas in the development of forms, processes, and procedures to implement within the housing defense team. 

• Meet reporting requirements: entering case notes in client database for each client daily, submitting daily work log to the team administrator and supervising attorney daily. 

• Scan, upload and save court forms and other case documents to client files daily. 

• Identify community resources/agencies and client referrals. 

Required 

• A demonstrated commitment to indigent defense, racial equity, housing and social justice issues, involving the City of Detroit. 

• Admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan. 

• Experience with landlord/tenant, subsidized housing, and foreclosures.  

• Knowledge regarding rapidly changing executive orders and agency policies, particularly eviction moratoriums and eviction diversion programs, both state and federal.  

• A track record of strategically guiding casework, projects and/or relationships; applying good and practiced judgment; and routinely pushing through roadblocks to achieve your goals. 

• An ability to quickly build relationships across varying identities, income levels, races and ethnicities. 

• A high level of organizational, time management, and administrative skills. 

• Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing. 

• Ability to empathize and show compassion for clients in crisis. 

• Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Word and OneDrive. 

Preferred 

• Bilingual (Spanish or Arabic) individuals are encouraged to apply. 

Compensation: 

Compensation is commensurate with experience.  The current salary range for this position is $78,794.69 - $122,912.49. The salary, benefits, and employment policies relevant to this position are governed by the CBA between NDS and the NDS Union, part of ALAA UAW 2325.  

• Full medical and dental benefits 

• Retirement plan with company match up to 5% 

• Robust time off perks, paid parental leave and other benefits, are provided 

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-confirming, and gender fluid people to apply.