About the Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP)
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented eviction risk for U.S. renters. We formed the Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP) in April 2020 as a direct response. Over the past few years, our community organizing project has evolved into a large housing stability organization that operates a continuum of care model focused on stopping eviction and displacement.
Serving over 1,000 households per month, we bring together housing lawyers, economists, data analysts, policy-experts, organizers, and technologists to provide five services:
- Rental Assistance: through our rental assistance program, we leverage public funds to pay back and future rent, reinstate leases, and avert evictions through rental debt settlements.
- Legal Services: For complicated cases with additional legal issues or difficult landlords, CED Law offers eviction defense services, paired with rental assistance dollars, to encourage settlement or stabilize tenancies and represent tenants in court when negotiation does not work. The law firm also takes on strategic affirmative litigation to confront egregious economic abuses.
- Rehousing and Case Management: Where legal services do not work, we provide rehousing support services through ERA funding and agency referrals.
- Policy: More broadly, we go case to cause. We work with our clients to tell their stories and amplify their voices into policy change. For example, in the 2020-2021 legislative session, we drafted and, in coalition with community organizations, passed the renters’ rights legislation that caps late fees, penalizes abusive landlords, and gives Coloradans access to the warranty of habitability without paying a bond. We have also curtailed predatory towing, secured additional assistance funding for our clients, and capped the price of epi pens at the legislature.
Our model has been cited as a best practice by the White House, HUD, the Urban Institute, and in the media.
As our team continues to scale our services at risk of eviction, we are also building a comprehensive economic, legal, and policy response to mortgage foreclosure, debt, and predatory towing across Colorado. Similar to CEDP’s work on rental housing, these efforts will offer a continuum of services that includes navigation and advisory services, targeted payments, legal support, and the ability to participate in advocacy. Technology to increase access to justice and the ease of managing the assistance system will be a core part of the response.
More about the Senior Attorney & Appellate Supervisor Role
As our law firm evolves, we are seeking an experienced CED Law appellate attorney to represent our clients on appeal in county court eviction cases to stabilize tenants who have had a judgment enter against them in default or at trial. The appeals will stabilize tenants while the cases are decided, challenge improper rulings, and ideally create good law for future cases.
The Senior Attorney & Appellate Supervisor will:
- Create and guide appellate program strategy and priorities with CED Law leadership
- Take case referrals internally and from outside partners and determine eligibility for representing tenants in appeals
- Collaborate with local, state, and national stakeholders on the development of legal strategies in appeals cases and impact litigation through appellate advocacy
- Create and provide trainings to CED Law staff on preserving the record for appeal, legal research skills, and complex legal issues
- Provide periodic updates to CEDP and partner organizations on appellate program progress
- Advise and partner with CED Law staff and senior attorneys in motions and trial practice as related to appeals cases
- Gather and review records, conduct research, and write appellate briefs in forcible entry and detainer cases
- Conduct oral argument on cases when requested and permitted by courts
- Negotiate with opposing counsel for the Plaintiff/landlord to obtain favorable settlements for clients
- Advise tenants in pro se appeals on a limited representation basis
- Occasionally represent tenants in trial level forcible entry and detainer cases
- Set and manage goals and responsibilities related to cases
- Complete required documentation for both case tracking and personal management
The successful candidate will have:
- A familiarity with forcible entry detainer law and housing policy
- A deep understanding of CED Law organizational policy, procedure and structure
- Excellent organizational skills
- A supportive, client-centered approach to lawyering
- Experience as a practicing attorney
- Strong legal writing and researching skills and an interest in appellate work
- A creative, self-driven attitude
- Ability to direct their own workload and meet deadlines and goals with little oversight
- A strong desire to work in a collaborative, rapid-change environment centered on social justice and equity
- Ability to work collaboratively with other attorneys, community partners, and team leads
Position Requirements
- Colorado bar admission and JD
- 6+ months’ experience as an appellate attorney at CED Law
- 3+ years’ experience as a practicing attorney in housing law or related field
- 3+ years’ experience in appellate practice and/or as an appellate judicial clerk (can overlap with above)
- Demonstrated passion for social and racial justice
- Strong desire to center client and community needs
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to travel within Denver Metro area and surrounding suburbs
- Ability to successfully work primarily remotely (home office setup provided by the organization with access to a co-working space in Denver)
- Strong organizational abilities
- Knowledge of MS Office suite, CLIO, Google Suite desired
- Other language fluency not required but a strong plus
Equal Opportunity
CEDP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Benefits & Compensation
- Starting salary $92,500
- Benefits include health, dental, vision, unlimited paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, and 401K
To Apply
Please click on the “apply” button on this page and submit your application online. If you are interested in more than one attorney position, apply for the position you are most interested in and note your interest in the other role(s) in your cover letter.