2023 WNC Housing Fellows Project
2023 WNC Housing Fellows Project
Pisgah Legal Services is recruiting our first-ever class of Housing Fellows, a small group of attorneys in WNC who will receive extensive training, mentoring, and support to represent clients in pro bono eviction and housing conditions cases. PLS staff and volunteer attorneys will provide free training to fellows 2.5 hours per month from March – May, 2023. PLS staff and volunteers will co-counsel with fellows on their first pro bono housing case. We ask that each Housing Fellow take 3-6 pro bono housing cases with Pisgah Legal between June – December 2023.
What Pisgah Legal Services Offers to Fellows:
- 7.5 Hours of Free Training with 5 Hours of CLE Credits – Pisgah Legal Services Housing Program Co-Directors and local attorneys in
private practice will provide training on eviction diversion and conditions matters to prepare attorneys to represent clients in Small Claims and District Courts. Attorneys may also have opportunities to represent tenants in appeals cases. - Three 2.5-hour training sessions, once per month in March – May 2023
- Hybrid training format: attend in person in Asheville or on Zoom
- Training dates determined based on the schedules of participants and will be confirmed in February 2023
- Trainings will be recorded and made available to Housing Fellows
- Free Housing Manual and a Form Bank – Pisgah Legal Services will provide Fellows with a Housing Manual, sample forms and documents related to eviction and conditions cases, and a list of community resources for low-income clients.
- Co-Counseling Opportunity – A Pisgah Legal Services’ staff attorneys will co-counsel with each Housing Fellow on a pro bono housing case in summer 2023. We can co-counsel with you on a case in the county of your choosing.
What Housing Fellows Commit To:
- Attending all required trainings or watching recorded trainings before taking your first pro bono housing case with Pisgah Legal Services.
- Accepting 3-6 pro bono housing referrals from PLS in 2023, after completing training, and continuing to partner with Pisgah Legal Services to assist low-income tenants beyond 2023.
Benefits of Becoming a Housing Fellow:
- Opportunity to make a difference in one of our region’s greatest socio-economic challenges
- Learn new legal practice skills
- Opportunity to connect with other local attorneys
- 5 hours of free CLE training on landlord/tenant law that will prepare you to go to court
- Co-counseling on your first pro bono landlord/tenant case with Pisgah Legal Services
- PLS will connect you with a mentor in the private bar
- Make connections in the local bar and in the courtroom
- Pro bono work with Pisgah Legal Services is covered by our malpractice insurance
- Networking to benefit your private practice — PLS volunteer attorneys note that doing pro bono helps them build their practice.
Questions? Contact Katie Russell Miller at [email protected] or 828-210-3420. Register here.
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