Oregon Law Center (OLC) seeks a staff attorney to provide civil legal services to low-income clients, specifically residential eviction defense. This position is remote and flexible in the attorney’s county of residence (within Oregon) and is intended to serve clients statewide. This is a one-year limited-duration position with a possibility of extension depending on funding availability. The attorney will maintain an active eviction defense caseload and regularly appear remotely in County eviction courts statewide. The attorney will work on a 25+ person team within legal aid dedicated to eviction defense.
About Us: OLC is a legal services program committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services. OLC operates eleven regional offices, a state support unit, legislative advocacy unit, and statewide farmworker program. OLC works closely with Legal Aid Services of Oregon and other partners in Oregon’s coordinated civil legal services delivery system.
OLC’s Eviction Defense Project is a partnership with Legal Aid Services of Oregon and the Center for Nonprofit Legal Services. We assist clients who are facing eviction from residential housing with the goal of making a real difference in clients’ lives and helping them, whenever possible, to maintain housing stability.
Responsibilities: This staff attorney position will handle a housing caseload of clients with active eviction cases. Responsibilities also include regular review of eviction docket filings to compile aggregate data and track trends.
OLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive organization and a healthy work environment for all staff. We strongly encourage people from diverse backgrounds and communities to apply for a job with us. Many of our employees come from backgrounds that have not always been represented in the legal field or have not been socially or economically privileged. This helps them be more effective advocates for our clients and contributes to our strength as an organization. Even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described, we hope you will consider applying, and we welcome your application.
• Current Oregon State Bar membership.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice for low-income communities.
• A high degree of initiative and ability to manage a caseload.
• Desire and ability to work successfully as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to take direction and guidance from low-income clients and their self-identified priorities and work for solutions within the legal process.
• Excellent written and verbal advocacy skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, a sense of humor, and a positive attitude.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, if needed, to meet the needs of clients.
Preferences:
• Experience representing tenants in eviction court in Oregon.
• Experience representing low-income clients.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.
Resumes reviewed on a rolling basis. Position open until filled. To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and list of three references to Becky Straus, Managing Attorney, Eviction Defense Project, Oregon Law Center, [email protected].
As part of your cover letter, please address the following:
OLC is committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. Our client communities include people of color, farmworkers, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, seniors, people with lived experiences of homelessness, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from other underrepresented groups. It is essential to our work to serve clients that we also work to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued.
How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to:
1. Serve our diverse client communities effectively
2. Work effectively with colleagues from backgrounds different than your own
3. Acknowledge the systemic barriers that our clients face
4. Contribute to our efforts to achieve racial justice
Feel free to provide examples and apply various aspects of your life and personal experiences, as you respond to this question.
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