Staff Attorney - Unlawful Detainer Clinic
About The Position
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. (SDVLP) is seeking a part-time Staff Attorney with public interest experience to operate its Unlawful Detainer Self-Help Clinic at the Vista Courthouse. This clinic provides legal information to self-represented litigants in residential eviction cases and certain restraining order cases. The Staff Attorney, with volunteer support, will help litigants understand court processes, required paperwork, and what to expect. The clinic does not offer legal advice or representation but can provide referrals. SDVLP, established in 1983, is the oldest and most comprehensive pro bono legal services program in San Diego County, dedicated to ensuring equal access to justice for disadvantaged individuals.
Requirements
- Must be a member in good standing of the California Bar.
- Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Must have excellent mentorship and teaching skills.
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to successfully work as part of a team, and with the public, volunteers, court personnel, government agencies, and partner organizations.
- Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments with accuracy and minimal direction.
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required by events and deadlines.
- Excellent Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income and disadvantaged people.
- Ability to occasionally travel to SDVLP’s other offices throughout San Diego County, as necessary.
Nice To Haves
- 1-2 years of landlord-tenant law experience, preferred.
- Spanish written and speaking ability, preferred.
Responsibilities
- Educating self-represented litigants on court rules and procedures related to landlord-tenant disputes and restraining orders.
- Assisting litigants with identifying court documents that may need to be filed in their case.
- Creating and maintaining up-to-date factsheets/resources for self-represented litigants.
- Developing and maintaining written training materials for clinic volunteers.
- Maintaining a strong understanding of the laws and court procedures pertaining to the topics addressed at the clinic and staying up-to-date with the latest changes.
- Identifying and distributing legal resources and referrals to self-represented litigants.
- Training and supervising pro bono attorneys, law students, and Justice Corp interns.
- Fostering and maintaining collaborative relationships with court personnel, volunteers, and other partners.
- Managing and compiling statistical data necessary for grant reports.
- Delivering services, and training pro bono attorneys on how to deliver services, through a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care framework.
- Engaging in other tasks and projects as needed to further SDVLP’s mission.
Benefits
- Generous paid leave benefits, including up to 45 hours of annual leave and 34.66 hours of sick leave.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- SDVLP is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
