Eviction Defense (UD) Housing Attorney

Open Door Legal • San Francisco, CA

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

Open Door Legal (ODL) is seeking an Eviction Defense (UD) Housing Attorney to join their team. This role focuses on providing holistic, trauma-informed housing services to low-income individuals, particularly BIPOC populations, and those at risk of losing their housing. The attorney will represent clients in Unlawful Detainer proceedings, utilizing tenant protections, navigating aid programs, and collaborating with other organizations. The position requires critical thinking, humility, and awareness of community needs, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience in a fast-paced, innovative, and growing organization. Success in this role is driven by the team's values: grit, dynamism, teamwork, care, and passion. The attorney will report directly to the Senior Eviction Defense (UD) Housing Attorney.

Requirements

• Membership in good standing with the California State Bar. Applicants without active California Bar membership will not be considered.
• Must genuinely enjoy working with low-income clients and have a commitment to providing culturally-humble and trauma-informed services.
• Must have some experience in a fast-paced office environment.
• Must have high comfort using technology and case management systems.
• Must have a strong attention to detail.
• This is a hybrid role. You must be able to report to our physical offices for work at least three (3) days and up to four (4) days per week.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced Spanish and/or Cantonese proficiency (speaking, reading, and writing) and high level of comfort translating and interpreting from English to Spanish or Cantonese and vice versa legal information without assistance.
• California housing law and superior court civil procedure knowledge.
• Experience working with low-income and vulnerable populations.
• Experience working in a high-volume legal aid organization, public defender’s office or similar environment.
• Knowledge of other local non-profit organizations and tools for assisting low-income, underserved communities.
• Having lived a significant period of your life in San Francisco proper.

Responsibilities

• Embrace and embody our mission of universal access to civil legal aid and ensure that everyone in our service area with a viable housing problem gets appropriate help, including legal representation.
• Own a full caseload as per team needs, while opening and closing cases in an efficient manner.
• Appear in San Francisco Superior Court representing clients on average once every two weeks (and up to three times per week) for litigation matters, as required on your cases.
• Conduct housing law intakes virtually and in person across multiple physical Open Door Legal locations.
• Provide clear information frequently and with care to guests and clients about their cases.
• Provide services and support to our low-income clients with sensitivity and awareness to cultural, socio-economic, and disability differences, maintaining consistently positive client feedback scores.
• Embrace and embody our values of teamwork, grit, care, passion, and dynamism.

Benefits

• Loan Repayment Assistance - for staff pursuing 10-year public interest debt forgiveness, we will pay the minimum payment on all qualifying loans so that you don’t need to worry about student loan debt (this is a conditional benefit).
• Medical/Dental/Vision Plan offerings at 100% coverage
• Generous paid time off (four weeks vacation and two weeks sick/care)
• Flexible work hours
• Generous paid parental leave
• 401K/Retirement Account
• Financial investment in individual professional development for each staff member, which can include mentorships, coaching, and learning opportunities (conferences, workshops, etc.).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed