Staff Attorney II, Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project (PEHP)

Description

For nearly 50 years, Bet Tzedek Legal Services has provided high-quality, free legal services to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents. In that tradition, Bet Tzedek is seeking an attorney to help staff an exciting partnership to provide comprehensive, trauma informed, wrap-around legal services designed to remove barriers faced by community members experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness in West Los Angeles County. 

The Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project (PEHP) Staff Attorney II will provide legal representation, advice, and education in the areas of housing discrimination, eviction prevention and defense, tenants’ rights, record sealing, and other civil legal matters. The attorney will also partner with homelessness service providers to deliver outreach and coordinated services to eligible clients. The essential duties and responsibilities undertaken by this Attorney II should be done with limited direction, input, or correction from, a manager commensurate with a mid-level attorney. In addition, it is expected that the scope, complexity, and sophistication of work and trauma-informed client engagement will be commensurate with that of a mid-level attorney.

This position follows Bet Tzedek Legal Services hybrid/remote workplace type. At the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be required to work in the office or some other location to meet workload/business obligations. This requirement may be on a temporary or ongoing basis. Candidates must be located in the Southern California region and able to commute if needed.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

·        Represent clients in eviction defense, housing discrimination, record sealing, and related cases affecting barriers to safe and stable housing.

·        Litigate eviction defense cases, including drafting and filing court motions, propounding and responding to discovery, preparing trial court document, negotiating settlements, and representing at trial when appropriate.

·        Litigate eviction defense cases with limited day-to-day supervision of case tasks.

·        Conduct intakes and provide legal assistance at in-person clinics, know-your-rights presentations, and community outreach events.

·        Engage and effectively coordinate with social service provider who work with people who are unhoused or unstably housed

·        Travel locally for client services, clinics, outreach, court representation, and partner meetings.

·        Other duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

·        Active member of California State Bar in good standing (required);

·        Minimum three (3) years of experience practicing law (required);

·        Minimum two (2) years of non-profit legal services experience (preferred);

·        Clearly demonstrated proficiency and experience in landlord-tenant law, eviction defense, or similar practice areas related to housing or homelessness (required);

·        Clearly demonstrated proficiency and experience in civil litigation, expungement, public benefits law, employment law, consumer law, immigration law, or administrative law (required);

·        Clearly demonstrated proficiency with regard to time management, problem solving, and case management skills (required);

·        Excellent people skills, and ability to interact calmly and patiently with individuals in distress (required);

·        Willingness to serve as a resource to colleagues (required)

·        Willingness to train and work with volunteer attorneys and students (required);

·        Ease with oral and written communication in both English and Spanish (preferred);

·        Ability to travel independently throughout Los Angeles County for required client work and outreach and education events (required), valid California driver’s license (preferred);

·        Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to Bet Tzedek’s mission of equal justice for all and Bet Tzedek’s core values of leadership, community-based advocacy, and innovation; and

·        Demonstrated commitment to applying principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in performance of job duties.

Salary

$88,717.53 - $102,609.22 (DOE/DOQ)

Benefits

BENEFITS PACKAGE

Bet Tzedek offers an excellent benefits package in addition to competitive salaries. These benefits currently include:

·        A generous number of paid holidays, vacation, and sick days annually.

·        Personal and floating holidays

·        Compensatory time for exempt employees.

·        Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.

·        Lif