Few things are more important than the roof over your head. As a housing attorney, I prevent people from being evicted, help them assert their right to live in a decent, habitable home, and give general practicable knowledge about landlord-tenant law. I began my career as a volunteer through the AmeriCorps program at Northeast Legal Aid, where I assisted indigent persons through the “Lawyer for the Day” program. In this program, I worked with other housing attorneys to advise or represent people with housing issues. Eventually transitioning into a full-time job, volunteering in this capacity helped me grow as a lawyer and person. I would recommend volunteering with legal aid to all new attorneys eager to gain experience while giving back.
Practicing Housing Law
Practicing housing law comes with its fair share of stress, like any legal job. Given you work with real clients with real consequences at stake, there are a lot of emotions, stress, and strong personalities involved. Even with the stress that housing law comes with, I feel good about my work because I know I am making a positive impact and helping someone get through what might be the worst time in their lives. Although practicing housing law comes with a lot of responsibility, I know that I am never alone. Among community organizers, coworkers, legal aid volunteers, mentors, court staff, and even some opposing counsels in some cases, I am ingrained in a community. I also have many clients I have come to enjoy as people and my partners fighting for their rights. As hard as the work may be at times, it is gratifying.