Staff Attorney - Consumer Rights & Economic Justice
About The Position
Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice. The Staff Attorney will provide direct legal services to low-income clients, including seniors, and develop expertise in foreclosure defense, loss mitigation, and other legal issues related to income stabilization for low-income homeowners, including debt collection and student loan matters. The role involves conducting community presentations, collaborating with community-based organizations for outreach, staffing homeowner preservation clinics, handling individual cases, supporting class action litigation, representing the organization in external meetings and events, assisting with research and writing projects, grant reporting, and supervising summer law clerks and volunteers. This is a fixed-duration position funded until April 30, 2029.
Requirements
- 1-4 years of legal experience
- Juris Doctor degree and a member in good standing of the California State Bar
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent legal research skills
- Ability to quickly assimilate complex case facts and good attention to detail
- Ability to stay organized and handle a full caseload
- Demonstrated negotiation skills
- Willingness and desire to litigate
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
- High levels of emotional intelligence, maturity, and cultural competency, including curiosity, self-awareness, awareness of bias, empathy, patience, listening skills, and a growth mindset
- Strong team player who is willing to pivot and pitch in as needed
- Commitment to economic and racial justice, including participation in and advancement of equity and inclusion work at Public Counsel
Nice To Haves
- Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish desirable
- Experience in consumer law, particularly foreclosure defense, debt collection, and/or student loan matters, is highly desirable
Responsibilities
- Provide direct legal services to low-income clients, including seniors
- Develop expertise in foreclosure defense, loss mitigation, and other legal issues related to income stabilization for low-income homeowners, including debt collection and student loan matters
- Conduct community presentations on topics including the foreclosure process, homeowners’ rights, scam avoidance, consumer debt defense, and bankruptcy
- Collaborate with community-based organizations to conduct outreach on legal services and financial relief for homeowners at greatest risk of foreclosure throughout Los Angeles, Kern, and Ventura Counties
- Staff monthly homeowner preservation clinics
- Handle individual cases and support class action litigation as appropriate
- Represent CREJ and Public Counsel in external meetings and events, including in front of funders, and speaking on behalf of the project to the media where appropriate
- Assist the Directing Attorney, Supervising Attorney, and team with occasional research and writing projects, as well as grant reporting
- Supervise summer law clerks and other volunteers
- 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
- 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
