Description:

About This Position:
An Organization that Provide Free Legal Help to Residents of LA County is currently seeking a licensed attorney to join our eviction defense team. The Staff Attorney will be an integral part of a dynamic team of advocates at four public interest law offices working on a pilot project examining the impact of legal services on individuals, the court and the community in the Unlawful Detainer system. The attorney will defend tenants against eviction in cases in Los Angeles County. The attorney will work directly with clients and engage in all stages of litigation, including intake, pleadings, discovery, motions, hearings, settlement, administrative hearings, and trial. Addressing systemic issues through impact litigation in state and federal court. Working with community partners to develop resources and strategies for protecting homeowners and tenants; providing outreach and education to tenants and community groups; and assist with some training of support staff. At times, the Staff Attorney will be responsible for working with NLSLA staff and volunteers to operate our self-help legal access center at the Stanley Mosk courthouse.

In this role, you would report to the Supervising Attorney and a career path may result in future opportunities as a Senior Attorney. This position is exempt.

This Position May Be Right for You If:

YOU THRIVE IN A FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT and excel at moving through tasks and problem solving independently.
YOU DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF and can maintain a positive attitude and goal-oriented focus in an ever-changing and sometimes ambiguous environment.
YOU KNOW THAT INTEGRITY MATTERS and exhibit a strong adherence to ethical standards including, but not limited to, the ability to maintain confidentiality and fiduciary responsibility.
YOU HAVE STRONG INSTINCTS and can seamlessly self-direct your workload with minimal supervision.
YOU ARE A TEAM PLAYER and enjoy supporting your colleagues.
YOU ARE A GIFTED COLLABORATOR and enjoy working in a high-volume team environment.
YOU ARE A GOOD COMMUNICATOR that knows when to ask for help, how to contribute to the team, and how to receive feedback and apply it to your work performance.

What You Can Expect to Do in This Role:

Provide counsel and advice on a variety of housing matters and represent tenants in administrative hearings with local housing authorities and through trial in unlawful detainer proceedings.
Manage a varied caseload.
Prepare educational materials.
Participate in community events.
Collaborate with pro bono partners.
Train and supervise students, support staff and other volunteers working with the program.
This position may also include some work on policies issues related to housing/evictions and court appearances when appropriate.
Some travel to other NLSLA branch offices, courts, government agencies, shelters and community-based organizations in Los Angeles County may be required.

Requirements:
How You Can Stand Out:
For this role, the ideal candidate has

Bilingual verbal, reading, and writing proficiency in Spanish.

You will also stand out if you have:

Worked in a legal services firm.
Passion for supporting people from different lived experiences.

What You'll Need on Day One:

A JD from an accredited law school.
Current membership in the California Bar.
Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent writing, speaking and organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, the judiciary, and the public.
Ability to work effectively with staff and volunteers.
Shall enjoy working with the public and available to work core hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Passion about public service work.
Passion for NLSLA mission and demonstrated commitment to advocating for the legal rights of low-income individuals.
Passion, empathy, and compassion for supporting people from different lived experiences.