The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia is pleased to announce that Candace Mitchell has joined Legal Aid as the inaugural Steptoe Housing Law Fellow!

As part of Legal Aid’s Housing Law Unit, Ms. Mitchell will represent low-income tenants to prevent evictions and preserve access to safe and affordable housing in the District.

“We are thrilled to have such a skilled public advocate in Ms. Mitchell as the first Steptoe Housing Law Fellow,” said Paul Lee, Pro Bono Counsel at Steptoe. “In supporting this fellowship, our goal with Legal Aid is to expand pro bono legal services available for the preservation of affordable housing in the District.”

Prior to joining Legal Aid in September 2019, Ms. Mitchell worked for the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem in New York City, where she represented indigent people charged with offenses ranging from violations to violent felonies. Ms. Mitchell obtained her J.D. from New York University School of Law and her MA in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

“Ms. Mitchell brings a unique blend of experience in criminal justice, training in public policy, and passion for social justice to the role,” said Heather Latino, Deputy Legal Director at Legal Aid.

Announced in July, the Steptoe Housing Law Fellowship supports Legal Aid's Housing Law Unit, which works to prevent evictions, address dangerous housing conditions, and preserve affordable housing in the District. Unlike many other fellowships, the Steptoe Housing Law Fellowship is open to applicants with experience, as well as recent law school graduates and judicial clerks.

Public service at Steptoe has been an integral part of the firm’s history, ethos, and operations. For 23 years, Steptoe maintained a loaned associate program at Legal Aid. In addition, Steptoe has represented hundreds of pro bono clients referred by Legal Aid in the areas of housing, family law, and public benefits, among others.