Position: Tenant's Rights Attorney

Reports to: Asset Building Programs Director

Compensation: $100,000-$115,000

About MEDAThe Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) is a community-based, local economic development organization, which, for over 50 years, has engaged individuals, families, and small businesses in community-building strategies. Rooted in the Mission and focused on San Francisco, MEDA’s mission is to strengthen low- and moderate-income Latino families by promoting economic equity and social justice through asset building and community development.

About the Tenant's Rights Attorney

In 2022 MEDA formed Housing Stabilization & Eviction Defense (HSED) as part of its Housing Opportunities Program (HOP) to appropriately serve the Mission Community with culturally competent legal housing services. In order to further our impact MEDA is hiring a Tenant Right's Attorney to join HSED. The position requires a candidate that will actively work with clients who are facing tenants’ rights issues and eviction lawsuits in order to avoid displacement. They shall join HSED counsel to carry out the daily operation of the eviction defense service line within HOP to bolster the existing housing services which include rental applications, post-lottery services, homeownership counseling, and rental relief. They will support our clients to understand and navigate their current housing situation, determine and explain what their rights and contractual obligations are, and help them make a well-informed decision about how to best protect their household interests. The attorney will provide legal counsel and be responsible for performing trial representation, discovery collection, legal research, drafting documents, and keeping client files up to date. Issues this attorney would handle include landlord/tenant disputes, such as those related to rental rates, late or unpaid rent, nuisance situations, no fault evictions, disagreements about the habitability of rental unit, subtenancy challenges, and other tenant rights and landlord rights issues.

Job Responsibilities:

• Work with low and moderate income clients on legal matters related to staying in their home
• Analyze conflicts in legal matters, advise clients on solutions, and negotiate on behalf of clients
• Create legal documents, including correspondence, briefs, motions, pleadings, contracts, affidavits, and settlement agreements for contract negotiations and proceedings
• Collaborate with clients and senior associates and other staff to move cases toward resolution efficiently
• Attend court hearings or other legal proceedings, perform legal research, and work with partner agencies to provide legal advice
• Prepare correspondence and legal documents such as contracts, pleadings, briefs, affidavits, motions, and settlement agreements for contract negotiations and proceedings
• Communicate with other staff and clients to ensure cases are handled efficiently
• Conduct consultations, update clients on matters, communicate with court, conduct court appearances, argue motions before court, and negotiate settlements.
• Establish and refine operating procedures and policies to ensure appropriate handling of client cases, files, and other aspects of legal service delivery.

Qualifications:

• Bilingual Spanish and English required.
• Professional or lived experience working with communities of color required.
• 2-3 years of professional experience as an attorney.
• Member in good standing and actively involved with the California bar.
• Completion of a Juris Doctor (J.D. degree) from an accredited law school.

Solid communication skills and problem-solving skills required in order to work with clients, staff members and senior attorneys.