Description:

The Position: LAFLA seeks an experienced attorney for a two-year position to lead LAFLA's student loan justice work under a grant from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Student Loan Justice attorney will work with a LAFLA senior attorney who is an expert in higher education law and also works with the National Consumer Law Center to (1) lead a coalition of other legal aid grantees to coordinate legal services and provide training and assistance to non-legal services organizations who have received funding to assist student loan borrowers; (2) provide direct legal services to low-income borrowers; (3) identify systemic issues and engage in in impact policy and litigation on both a state and federal level; (4) consult with non-legal services organizations on their outreach and education materials aimed at borrowers; and (5) provide outreach and education to community-based organizations and borrowers.

Note: The Attorney position is a part of a special program created using designated funds. There is no assurance of ongoing funding or employment beyond the January 18, 2026.

Qualifications:

Active membership in the California State Bar with three to four years experience;
Demonstrated commitment to serving the needs of low-income people;
Litigation experience, including case evaluation, legal research and writing, discovery, negotiations, and administrative hearing or trial experience preferred;
Familiarity with federal and state debt collection laws, laws governing consumer financial services, fair credit reporting, and unfair and deceptive acts and practices laws;
Previous public interest experience preferred; and
Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0 hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and workweeks in excess of 35 hours when caseload or other obligations so necessitate.

Examples of Duties:

gather evidence and prepare individual claims for student debt relief;
engage in administrative advocacy to ensure clients obtain the most favorable federal debt repayment plans and other options available to them under federal law, including to stop or prevent involuntary collection on defaulted loans;
defend private debt collection lawsuits;
develop impact cases to challenge the illegal student loan practices of the U.S. Department of Education and private loan creditors and debt buyers;
develop partnerships with and support the efforts of other DFPI grantees, including by strategizing with other legal services organizations on systemic issues, outreach, and debt relief efforts, and providing technical assistance and training to non-legal services grantees;
write comment letters, provide hearing testimony and provide legal analysis regarding for-profit school and student loan laws at a state and national level, when requested to do so in compliance with Legal Services Corporation regulations; and
provide outreach and education to other DFPI grantees, community partners and client community on student loan rights;
participate in and support LAFLA and other legal services task forces.