POSITION: Managing Attorney - Housing and Communities
LOCATION: South Los Angeles Community Office
SALARY: $109,000k - $163,000k/ DOE with excellent benefits
AVAILABILITY: Immediately
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Continuous until position is filled
Are you interested in joining an organization dedicated to increasing access to justice while addressing systemic inequities among the most vulnerable members of the Greater Los Angeles area? If yes, LAFLA is the place for you!
The Organization: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved—leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Celebrating 95 years of service to Los Angeles communities, LAFLA is the first and most experienced legal aid organization in Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has more than 200 employees, including more than 100 attorneys, who provide free services and resources on a broad range of civil legal issues that impact healthy, safety, and self-sufficiency. Every year, LAFLA helps more than 100,000 people find their voice, regain control of their lives, and build a brighter future. Our unique combination of neighborhood offices, self-help centers at courthouses, and domestic violence clinics puts LAFLA on the frontlines in communities at the forefront of change. LAFLA also engages in impact litigation to help enact long-term systemic change—actively collaborating with a network of public and private partners to expand access to justice, identify needs in the communities we serve, and change laws and policies that adversely affect the underserved. For more information, please visit www.lafla.org.
The Housing and Communities Workgroup takes a community lawyering approach to litigation and policy advocacy by supporting tenants and tenant organizations to enforce and enact housing laws. It also provides legal support to community-based organizations seeking to build healthy, economically vibrant communities.
The Position: The Managing Attorney shall lead a group of talented, resourceful and mission-driven attorneys and paralegals who are dedicated to empowering low-income neighborhoods. Based primarily out of our South Los Angeles Community office, the position offers an opportunity to lead a robust practice that includes impact litigation, policy advocacy, community economic development and direct legal representation on behalf of clients throughout our service area. With your team, you will work to form legal strategies aimed at protecting and expanding tenants’ rights, increasing housing and improving our neighborhoods. If you seek to use your legal training to preserve communities, challenge the policies and practices that contribute to homelessness, and have the skills and passion to lead a team of similarly-motivated staff, then we encourage you to apply.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Active membership in the California State Bar;
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in litigation (ideally in both Superior and Federal Courts), policy work, especially on matters of public interest affecting low-income individuals;
• Demonstrated knowledge of housing, and/or community economic development;
• Community lawyering experience is considered a plus;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to handle and supervise the legal work of others engaged in direct services, policy advocacy, transactional work and complex litigation;
• Knowledge of principles of administration and supervision;
• Experience managing and implementing grants and preparing grant reports preferred;
• Previous experience in a legal services program preferred;
• Experience with diverse client populations and a commitment to promoting anti-racism;
• Ability to work as part of a management team;
• Ability to work cooperatively with staff effectively at all levels of the Foundation; and
• Good people skills and the ability to maintain positive relations with a diverse population.
• Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0 hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and work weeks in excess of 35 hours when caseload so necessitates.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
• Manage 8-12 staff members in the Housing and Communities Workgroup in the areas of housing and community economic development;
• Supervise litigation in state and federal courts, community economic development and policy work;
• Work with the Director of Housing Justice to ensure the Foundation’s mission, including with respect to addressing systemic racism, is being fulfilled and reflected in the workgroup’s annual work plan;
• Conduct annual performance evaluations of all workgroup staff and implement performance standards for the same;
• In conjunction with the development department, participate in resource development, including management of grants and, as necessary, identifying and pursuing grants and other funding opportunities;
• Ensure regulatory compliance on cases and conduct regular case review meetings and individual staff check-ins; and
• Work with other Managing Attorneys to meet the overall goals of the Foundation and to manage the South Los Angeles Community Office.
• Contribute to the organization’s DEI plan and goals (via surveys, interviews, etc), supporting all DEI initiatives and helping to promote inclusion in a thoughtful way;
• To view LAFLA’s Commitment to DEI, please go to https://lafla.org/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion-justice-at-lafla/
HOW TO APPLY -Please submit a cover letter and resume online to [email protected].. Include “Managing Attorney – Housing & Communities” in the subject line.
INTRODUCTORY PERIOD – A one year introductory period will be required.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital or registered domestic partners status, or any other legally protected status.
The organization is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process or expect to require an accommodation if hired, please contact [email protected].
BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION – LAFLA offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation
based on comparable public interest salaries. We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Eligible employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend. Please visit
https://lafla.org/get-involved/careers/ for our salary scale for union, non-management staff.
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