Pro Bono Week

What, When, and Where:


The Housing Crisis from the Inside
Guided Tour of DC Superior Court's
Landlord and Tenant Branch
sponsored by Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia and Neighborhood Legal Services Program.

Tuesday, October 27
8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
DC Superior Court, Civil Division
Landlord and Tenant Branch
Court Building B, 510 4th Street NW
Washington, DC

Directions:  Attendees should gather at 8:45 a.m. outside Court Building B, 510 4th Street NW, which is located within walking distance of the Judiciary Square Metro Station (Red, 1 minute), and the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro Station (Green/Yellow, 5 minutes).  Please wear business or business casual attire and bring a photo ID, and leave cameras or recording devices at home.  (Cell phones with cameras are permitted.)


RSVP: Pre-registration is required because space is limited. To be eligible to attend, participants must be members of the DC Bar (or awaiting admission), government attorneys or law students. Please note, however, that lawyers currently eligible to practice in the DC Courts will be given priority. 

RSVP to attend by emailing Neesa Sethi: nsethi@legalaiddc.org. 

Questions? For more information, please contact:
Neesa Sethi, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, 202-628-1161, nsethi@legalaiddc.org. 

Follow the conversation on Twitter:
#DCProBono15
 

2015 Pro Bono Week

The Housing Crisis from the Inside:
Guided Tour of DC Superior Court's Landlord-Tenant Branch

 sponsored by Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia and
Neighborhood Legal Services Program.

Tuesday, October 27, from 8:45 to 10:45 am

Housing costs in the District of Columbia continue to soar, making affordable housing increasingly out of reach for many residents. With a median rent of $2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, the District is now the fourth most expensive rental market among the nation’s 50 largest cities. The rapidly declining availability of affordable housing is one of the most significant access to justice issues for low-income individuals and families in our community.

Learn more about this issue from the perspective of tenants and their advocates by getting an inside look at D.C. Superior Court’s Landlord and Tenant Branch through a guided tour of the courthouse by an experienced housing attorney.

 Your guide, Beth Mellen Harrison, is the Director of Legal Aid’s Landlord-Tenant Court-Based Legal Services Project and has been practicing housing law in the District for the past decade. Beth will explain court operations and lead a discussion focusing on the presence (or lack thereof) of attorneys representing tenants and landlords, barriers to broader access to representation, and challenges inherent in the court system, particularly for low-income tenants. The morning will begin with an observation of “Roll Call” – the court’s daily calendar call for which all persons with cases set for initial hearings are expected to be present. This is guaranteed to be an eye-opening experience.

You will also have the opportunity to learn about how pro bono attorneys can help low-income individuals and families assert their tenants’ rights and remain in their homes. This is a fantastic opportunity to get an inside perspective on what goes on in this fast-paced, high-volume court.

Space is limited, so please RSVP in advance to Neesa Sethi, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia at nsethi@legalaiddc.org.
 
Click here to register now!