What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Attorney – Portland Regional Office (Housing) position at National Legal Aid & Defender Association?
Position Description
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is seeking a housing attorney for a full-time position in its Portland Regional Office. This position is eligible for a partial remote work option.
Background
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs focused on services to farmworkers and on issues impacting Native Americans. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program that is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on client community problems.
The Portland Regional Office of LASO serves a poverty population of more than 220,000. The office serves Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Sherman and Wasco counties, a diverse service area requiring the ability to work effectively with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. The Portland Regional Office has adopted a race equity agenda to guide its work with clients as well as its internal operations. The office has a strong commitment to building an inclusive, diverse workplace.
Responsibilities
The staff attorney will be responsible for maintaining a varied poverty law caseload that will focus primarily on housing in addition to domestic and sexual violence, among other substantive areas as assigned by the Regional Director and housing supervisor.
The attorney will handle all aspects of the initial consultation, including eligibility screening, issue spotting, the provision of specific and particularized advice by phone and in writing and presentation of priority matters in case meetings. The attorney will handle all aspects of legal representation including client contact, pleading preparation, research, file maintenance, collaboration with support staff and hearing and trial work.
Qualifications
Competitive candidates will have at least 2 years of civil or criminal litigation experience; are current members of the Oregon State Bar or are able to gain admission through reciprocity; can show a proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable populations; and can demonstrate enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and a willingness to work as a team in a high volume fast-paced environment. Being bilingual in English and Spanish or another language spoken by our client population is preferred but not required.
Salary/Benefits
Compensation is based on a 35-hour work week. Salary range is $66,200 – 73,700 for 0-5 years’ experience; $75,200 – 81,200 for 6-10 years’ experience; and $82,700 - $105,200 for 11-30 years’ experience annually; salaries are determined by relevant work experience and our Collective Bargaining Agreement. An additional $4,300 to $5,700 annually is available to bilingual staff, depending on proficiency. In addition, LASO offers a full benefits package including individual and family health, vision, and dental insurance; a 6% employer retirement contribution; generous paid holidays, vacation, and health leave; and paid moving expenses.
Closing Date
Open until filled. Estimated closing date is April 20, 2026, 5 p.m.
Applications
Send resume and letter of interest, which includes information in response to the supplemental question below, to:
Melissa Haggerty, Interim Regional Director
projobs@lasoregon.org
Supplemental question
LASO is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients. How have your personal background and experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and inclusion of historically excluded populations in the legal system?
If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Trisha Baier, HR Partner, trisha.baier@lasoregon.org.
We celebrate diversity.
LASO is committed to being an organization that reflects the communities we serve and is diverse in race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities, work background, experience and education. We believe that the outcome of such diversity is our greatest strength and a matter of basic human fairness. It is to this end that we strongly encourage applications from people of color and people from any other underrepresented and historically marginalized group to apply for this position.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is seeking a housing attorney for a full-time position in its Portland Regional Office. This position is eligible for a partial remote work option.
Background
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs focused on services to farmworkers and on issues impacting Native Americans. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program that is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on client community problems.
The Portland Regional Office of LASO serves a poverty population of more than 220,000. The office serves Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Sherman and Wasco counties, a diverse service area requiring the ability to work effectively with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. The Portland Regional Office has adopted a race equity agenda to guide its work with clients as well as its internal operations. The office has a strong commitment to building an inclusive, diverse workplace.
Responsibilities
The staff attorney will be responsible for maintaining a varied poverty law caseload that will focus primarily on housing in addition to domestic and sexual violence, among other substantive areas as assigned by the Regional Director and housing supervisor.
The attorney will handle all aspects of the initial consultation, including eligibility screening, issue spotting, the provision of specific and particularized advice by phone and in writing and presentation of priority matters in case meetings. The attorney will handle all aspects of legal representation including client contact, pleading preparation, research, file maintenance, collaboration with support staff and hearing and trial work.
Qualifications
Competitive candidates will have at least 2 years of civil or criminal litigation experience; are current members of the Oregon State Bar or are able to gain admission through reciprocity; can show a proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable populations; and can demonstrate enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and a willingness to work as a team in a high volume fast-paced environment. Being bilingual in English and Spanish or another language spoken by our client population is preferred but not required.
Salary/Benefits
Compensation is based on a 35-hour work week. Salary range is $66,200 – 73,700 for 0-5 years’ experience; $75,200 – 81,200 for 6-10 years’ experience; and $82,700 - $105,200 for 11-30 years’ experience annually; salaries are determined by relevant work experience and our Collective Bargaining Agreement. An additional $4,300 to $5,700 annually is available to bilingual staff, depending on proficiency. In addition, LASO offers a full benefits package including individual and family health, vision, and dental insurance; a 6% employer retirement contribution; generous paid holidays, vacation, and health leave; and paid moving expenses.
Closing Date
Open until filled. Estimated closing date is April 20, 2026, 5 p.m.
Applications
Send resume and letter of interest, which includes information in response to the supplemental question below, to:
Melissa Haggerty, Interim Regional Director
projobs@lasoregon.org
Supplemental question
LASO is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients. How have your personal background and experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and inclusion of historically excluded populations in the legal system?
If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Trisha Baier, HR Partner, trisha.baier@lasoregon.org.
We celebrate diversity.
LASO is committed to being an organization that reflects the communities we serve and is diverse in race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities, work background, experience and education. We believe that the outcome of such diversity is our greatest strength and a matter of basic human fairness. It is to this end that we strongly encourage applications from people of color and people from any other underrepresented and historically marginalized group to apply for this position.
Salary : $4,300 - $5,700