Description:

A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents's Consumer Law Practice focuses on halting unfair and deceptive business practices in consumer financial products and protecting the rights of low-income consumers. Our Consumer Rights practice team focuses its advocacy efforts on the pressing legal issues identified by low-income consumers in our community. This includes addressing the impact of ballooning family debt incurred from COVID's financial fallout, such as court enforced debt collection, and credit barriers to obtaining housing. The team has also been assisting consumers with federal and private student loans and has an opportunity to expand these services through increased individual assistance and identify and addressing systemic issues facing student loan borrowers. We are seeking an attorney interested in helping low-income consumers in a range of legal issues and demonstrated experience or interest in student loan debt. The team serves clients in multiple counties and thus the position will require limited travel throughout A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents. We will consider the applicant's convenience in deciding the primary location for the position at one of BayLegal's A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents Offices.

As a A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents Attorney, you will have the opportunity to:

Learn and advocate for the diverse legal needs of underserved and vulnerable communities in A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents to reduce homelessness, enhance economic and housing stability, and promote social justice;
Represent and assist low-income consumers in state and federal court at every stage of litigation, including motions, discovery, ADR, and trials.
Staff and supervise interns and volunteers in community-based legal clinics educating clinic participants about their legal rights, assisting with legal forms and pleadings to address consumer debt issues, including unfair or abusive debt collection and credit reporting, and student loan debt relief.
Identify systemic problems that affect our clients and address these challenges through affirmative litigation and advocacy.
Collaborate with the local and national consumer justice community.
Provide workshops and technical assistance to community partners and client community on consumer and economic rights.
Conduct intake and screening of non-consumer legal issues within BayLegal's practice areas and work with colleagues who practice in those areas to advance the interest of clients.
Develop relationships with public and private community partners, including governmental agencies, courts, and community-based organizations, to ensure integrative services and address systemic barriers facing BayLegal's client community.
Work with BayLegal's development, grants and contracts, and communications team to promote BayLegal's mission and resource development.
Engage in other tasks and projects that further BayLegal's mission and operations as a non-profit.

Requirements/Qualifications/About the Successful Candidate:

A commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity, as well as humility when working with clients and colleagues at the intersection of multiple identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigration status, religion, physical and mental disability, and/or limited English proficiency.
Member of CA Bar in good standing or admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for 3 years under the California State Bar rules for the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program preferred. Candidates who have recently passed the California Bar or will be taking the bar exam at the next sitting are welcome to apply.
Willing to be on-site at BayLegal office or advocacy site at least three days per week and as needed to serve clients.
Received or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by date of hire to be considered. Passion for and desire to work with low-income individuals.
Experience representing individuals with consumer law issues.
Experience with student loan debt legal issues preferred.
Experience providing direct legal services to low-income clients preferred.
Language fluency and proficiency in language regularly used in services to our client community preferred (wage differential available upon passing test for fluency and written proficiency).
Experience and skills maintaining organization of time, managing diverse activities, and meeting critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with ability to be detail-oriented.
Experience and commitment to working collaboratively with a dynamic team.
Commitment to complying with all California Rules of Professional Conduct, BayLegal funding requirements and firm standards, policies and practices.
Current proficiency, and ability to improve proficiency, in technological equipment, hardware and software necessary to perform duties of the position.
Curious and self-directed with an ability to anticipate what needs to be done.
Experience and skill to simultaneously manage multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual details.
Sense of humor and proactive problem-solver.