Program Description
The lack of affordable housing in New Jersey and our economic disparities have resulted in an ongoing eviction crisis in the state. With the State’s support, Seton Hall Law School and Rutgers Law School established the New Jersey Housing Justice Project in the fall of 2021 to address this crisis. Recognizing the need to train more attorneys to undertake critical housing advocacy on behalf of tenants, the law schools are starting a Housing Justice Corps.
The positions will be one-year fellowships, with the possibility of a second year, depending on funding. The experience begins with a 3 to 4-week intensive training for the Fellows in fall 2022. This training will cover litigation and trial skills as well as substantive housing law. Fellows will then be placed at one of the law schools or another legal services office where the Fellow will be representing low- and moderate-income tenants. Some Fellows may be placed in teams at community organizations. Experienced attorneys will mentor and supervise the Fellows.
During the fellowship, the Fellows will meet regularly and participate in additional training. They will collaborate, discuss legal issues, and develop and implement strategies to support housing stability though a listserv and/or discussion board.
Qualifications
Law graduates, law students who expect to graduate by Spring 2022, newer attorneys (those in the first five years of practice), and attorneys seeking to change their practice area are invited to apply. Graduates of Seton Hall Law School and Rutgers Law School preferred. Bilingual capacity, particularly in English-Spanish, is a plus.
Program Benefits
Fellows will receive a salary of $70,000/year plus benefits. Benefits include paid time off, medical and dental benefits, and loan repayment assistance. Flexible work schedule with some evenings and weekends required for community outreach. Fellows may be approved to work on a hybrid schedule, subject to the requirements for in-person work in connection with court and community outreach.
To Apply
Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript (official or unofficial), two letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. In the cover letter, the candidate should address the candidate’s commitment to and interest in housing justice; how the candidate’s life experiences have prepared the candidate to serve diverse populations in housing justice; and, if known, in which community(ies) the candidate would like to serve.
All materials should be submitted to the Seton Hall Law School Center for Social Justice at CSJ_Reception@shu.edu with the subject line: Housing Justice Corps.
Applications are due by May 2, 2022.