The First Step Program (FSP) prevents evictions and displacement of vulnerable populations using proactive pre-litigation techniques. The FSP Staff Attorney gets involved in a tenants case earlier than traditional legal service providers. The program leverages pre-litigation tools to help tenants stay in their homes (and avoid an eviction filing altogether).The FSP staff attorney answers legal questions, provides advice, and makes necessary referrals for tenants prior to the filing of an… Show more The First Step Program (FSP) prevents evictions and displacement of vulnerable populations using proactive pre-litigation techniques. The FSP Staff Attorney gets involved in a tenants case earlier than traditional legal service providers. The program leverages pre-litigation tools to help tenants stay in their homes (and avoid an eviction filing altogether).The FSP staff attorney answers legal questions, provides advice, and makes necessary referrals for tenants prior to the filing of an eviction case. Show less

Oversee and direct MTO's Eviction Prevention Program (EPP), which provides direct assistance to tenants facing eviction by helping document conditions and craft legal notices, provide legal education and referrals, and assist tenants in negotiations. Supervise EPP staff and volunteers, conduct community education trainings and assist in the development of new funding opportunities.

Provide direct assistance to tenants facing eviction by helping document conditions and craft notices under the Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance and appropriate state statutes, provide legal education and referrals where necessary, and assist tenants in negotiating with landlords. Provide training to community partners and housing advocates on relevant tenants rights laws.

• Draft new housing ordinances, assist in organizing tenant associations, facilitate mediations between landlords & tenants, and accompany renters to housing court.• Maintain relationships with organizational members and pro-bono legal partners, host renters’ rights trainings, counsel tenants, and recruit volunteers.• Develop and manage new media, web content and press relations. Train staff and assist tenants using our mobile phone app for renters, squaredawaychicago.com.

Civil rights and criminal defense attorney licensed in the state of Illinois, and the Central and Northern Districts of Illinois. Extensive discovery and motion practice, trial practice in both state and Federal court, and extensive negotiation and legal expertise in the field of landlord tenant law. Experienced researcher with investigative and technological experience that complements legal skills. Excellent writer and communicator with the ability to quickly pick up and learn new skills.

• Research case law and draft legal memoranda, amended complaints and affidavits related to Federal civil rights claims under §1983.• Draft interrogatories, requests for production, motions in limine, jury instructions, and deposition abstracts.• Communicate with clients, draft motions, compile exhibits, and prepare for and attend depositions.

• Trained, supervised & assisted researchers gathering facts about new construction. • Managed multiple online products, monitored and increased researcher efficiency.

• Collected the most pertinent facts and information about new construction projects. • Interviewed project owners, architects, developers and general contractors.

• Contacted Nurse Executives, conducted phone interviews, and gathered & analyzed data.

• Organized, supervised and motivated a four person (exterior household) paint crew.