What are the responsibilities and job description for the STAFF ATTORNEY - PREVENTING AND ENDING HOMELESSNESS PROJECT position at Bennett Recruiting Services?
Our client, a Legal Services organization provideshigh-quality, free legal services to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents. They are seeking an attorney to help staff an exciting partnership to provide comprehensive, trauma informed, wrap-around legal services that remove barriers faced by vulnerable community members experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness in Los Angeles County. You will provide legal representation, and legal advice in the areas of eviction prevention and defense, housing, and criminal record expungement. This position requires an individual with exceptional communication skills and sensitivity to the needs of community members who are vulnerable and often marginalized by our society. The organization seeks an attorney to support the team’s direct legal services and community outreach for one year or possibly longer. This position offers a 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.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES • Provide client-centered, trauma-informed direct legal services to vulnerable tenants and unhoused residents. • Advise clients on a wide variety of legal issues that may include eviction defense, renters’ rights, eviction record sealing, and criminal record expungement. • Litigate landlord-tenant cases, including writing and filing pre-trial motions, preparing trial binders, making in-person court appearances, and negotiating unlawful detainer settlement agreements • Attend monthly in-person clinics and community outreach events • Perform case management duties, including but not limited to maintaining case files pursuant to agency practices and procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS • Active member of California State Bar in good standing, or licensed in another state and eligible to practice under CRC Rule 9.45 (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).