Shriver Staff Attorney - Homelessness Prevention Law Project

Public Counsel•Los Angeles, CA

39d•$77,000 - $103,400•Onsite

About The Position

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles. Public Counsel operates seven legal projects: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Gender Justice, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law. Public Counsel has a full-time staff of approximately 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms. Public Counsel’s Homelessness Prevention Law Project (HPLP) serves individuals who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless. The Shriver Housing Project is a pilot project authorized under the Shriver Civil Counsel Act (AB 590) to demonstrate the benefits of providing counsel to clients in high-stakes civil litigation such as the possible loss of housing. Although not a pure civil Gideon project, the Shriver Housing Project assists thousands of unrepresented low-income litigants in unlawful detainer actions. In addition to our homelessness prevention and anti-displacement efforts, our recent work includes: Supporting local tenants in their successful efforts to obtain an Eviction Moratorium ordinance Teaming up with other non-profit legal services providers, tenant organizers and community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles County to push forward the implementation of a Right to Counsel for all tenants in eviction proceedings Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the new Staff Attorney will:

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree and a member in good standing of the California Bar
Willingness and ability to conduct jury trials, with appropriate supervision and training
Strong written and oral communication skills
Excellent negotiation and organizational skills
Ability to spot legal issues and comfort with providing real-time counsel & advice
Desire to learn as well as share knowledge with other team members
Comfort with practicing trauma-informed legal advocacy: empathy, responsive listening, restraint from judgment, and demonstration of authentic care and concern
Ability to work with and have sensitivity to individuals in crisis and at-risk of homelessness
Commitments to race equity and community-centered work, and willingness to incorporate race equity principles and community-centered approaches in practice
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
Ability to commute throughout Los Angeles County
Strong interpersonal skills
Detail oriented
Ability to work well as part of a team, but also work independently with minimal to moderate supervision

Nice To Haves

1-5 years of litigation experience preferred
Eviction defense experience preferred
Familiarity with housing laws
Experience with data collection and creating reports
Ability to read, write and speak fluently in Spanish is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Carry a personal caseload litigating unlawful detainer cases which includes: client interviews; drafting pleadings, motions, discovery, briefs, and correspondence; negotiating with outside parties representing clients in court and conducting jury trials
Provide legal counsel, advice, and limited scope representation to low-income individuals regarding evictions and related housing matters
Act as a resource regarding unlawful detainer cases and other housing issues for other Public Counsel staff and partner agencies
Some work with a large network of pro bono attorneys to handle unlawful detainer cases and other housing matters
Participate in community outreach, including preparing and presenting trainings and doing special projects as assigned
Assist with grant reporting, billing, and outcome tracking for housing work
Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage
Dental and vision coverage
Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans
Generous paid time off (per year): 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs 2 personal observance days
11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)
403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution
Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement
$45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
Up to 6 months of parental leave
Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
Professional development support and opportunities
Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization