About the Opportunity
The Detroit Justice Center (DJC) is hiring a contract Part-Time Attorney for a one-year contract to join our Legal Services & Advocacy Practice (LSAP). This role is for a Michigan-licensed attorney with experience in family, traffic, or housing law and a strong commitment to racial and economic justice. You will support people navigating complex legal challenges related to incarceration, poverty, and structural harm. Your work will help clients stabilize housing and resolve family matters through direct legal representation.
The Detroit Justice Center is a nonprofit law practice that helps individuals, families, and communities heal from and move beyond the criminal legal system. We support people harmed by policing, surveillance, incarceration, and poverty, and work in partnership with grassroots groups to build alternatives rooted in justice and care. Our legal services team helps remove legal barriers while advancing a broader vision of community safety and economic freedom.
Represent clients in family, housing, and traffic matters, focusing on:
Family law issues like custody and support
Legal issues tied to housing instability
Driver’s license restoration
Criminal record expungement
Appear in court for hearings, status conferences, and trials
Draft and file legal documents such as motions, petitions, and settlements
Conduct client interviews and maintain responsive communication
Participate in legal clinics
Active license and good standing with the Michigan State Bar
At least 2 years of litigation experience, preferably in family law
Strong organizational and communication skills
Self-directed and reliable, with a deep commitment to community-based legal work
Aligned with DJC’s mission to end mass incarceration and support community-led solutions
Contract Type: Independent Contractor (1099)
Schedule: Part-time, approx. 10–20 hours/week
Pay: $75/hour
Term: One-year contract
DJC provides malpractice coverage for assigned cases
Access to Lexis, ICLE, and other legal tools included
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We aim to have someone in place by March 1, 2026.
We strongly encourage applications from people most impacted by the criminal legal system. This includes but is not limited to Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; people with disabilities; LGBTQIA+ people; and individuals with past justice system involvement. DJC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace.
The Detroit Justice Center works alongside communities to create economic opportunities, transform the justice system, and promote equitable and just cities.
DJC is founded on the belief that we cannot build cities that work for everyone without remedying the impacts of mass incarceration. This mission requires innovative ways of community lawyering—rooted in defensive and offensive fights for racial justice and economic equity—that build up our poorest residents through direct services and novel approaches to land use, housing, and employment.
