Three Rivers Legal Services (Trls) Work Values

Daily Duties at Three Rivers Legal Services (Trls):

Initially brought on as an AmeriCorps attorney to combat housing and homelessness. Afterwards, awarded prestigious 2-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship (formerly "NAPIL") Consumer Justice Project to combat deception and economic exploitation of low-income and vulnerable consumers. Later, drafted and was awarded Title III grant to manage outreach to and service of family caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren. Represented clients individually through litigation, advice, brief services, and legal education. Protected clients’ at-risk homes, cars, and assets through litigation, consumer education, and attorney trainings. Also directly represented low-income Housing Law Project clients facing evictions, lock-outs, and foreclosures. Litigated and negotiated housing disputes. Conducted extensive community outreach to locate, educate, and represent family caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren. Built productive relationships with coworkers, senior management, counterparts in other companies, and local government. Advised and counseled low-income, asset-poor clients about what money and property creditors or debt collectors could take and what money and property was exempt from seizure under federal and Florida law. Told clients who lacked legal defenses to an action how and when to write an “Answer” and what to expect when attending court. Explained how to obtain copies of credit reports and how to “clean them up” by protesting inaccurate or aged negative information. Prepared sample letters for clients to use as models to exercise FDCPA and FCRA rights. Participated in agency policy development and implementation about accepting and declining to provide individual representation in particular classes of cases in light of the agency’s limited resources. Prepared and wrote legal documents about consumer finance and housing topics based on careful legal analysis and legal research. Litigated cases before courts. Learned and studied consumer law cases, practice, and strategy and taught TRLS attorneys about the FDCPA, TILA and Reg. Z, HOEPA, FCRA, Florida’s unfair and deceptive practices law, the FTC Holder-in-Due-Course rule, and other topics. Negotiated on behalf of clients’ interests with lenders, landlords, car dealers, opposing counsel. Managed programs and supervised paralegals. Provided direct representation. On numerous occasions, presented legal information through public speaking to community groups and conducted outreach to contact people likely to be eligible for TRLS services.

What they like about Three Rivers Legal Services (Trls):

You give high priority to hiring firms with prestige. Market reputation and prestige of a firm may be determined through on-line research, and conversations with individuals working in your target industry. Note that firms "in the public eye" receive a great deal more critical publicity and attention than those operating with more anonymity. So as you assess your employment opportunities, be sure to seek out the positive aspects of the firm's reputation in addition to noting negative publicity the company may have received.

Tags

lawyer, consumer, financial, regulatory, privacy, marketing, ECOA, TILA, FDCPA, Section 5, UDAP, UDAAP, EFTA, advertising, fair lending, loan, mortgage, credit card, credit, FTC, CFPB, FACTA, GLB, TSR, Washington, DC, New York, Boston, East coast, JD, CIPP anticipated

Skills

P&L responsibilities, Technology Solutions, Sales Support, Software Implementation, Requirements Analysis & Specification, Leadership , Legal Research, Legal Analysis, Collaboration, Negotiation, Communicating with Businesses, Enlisting Expert Help Where Appropriate, Zealous Representation, Risk Mitigation, Creativity, Writing and Speaking to Varied Audiences

These are some of the questions we asked our climbers about their experiences with Three Rivers Legal Services (Trls):