Description:

A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents seeks an attorney with a strong commitment to public interest and social justice advocacy to represent low-income tenants in asserting their rights in eviction proceedings, fair housing, and preservation of affordable housing. In this position you will have the opportunity to join a small collaborative local team based out of San José and BayLegal's regional housing practice and social justice team. This position is based in our San José office and requires travel to all parts of the county as necessary to best serve our low-income clients. There may be travel within BayLegal's broader service areas for the purposes of meeting with clients in transportation challenged areas and as necessary for training and broader advocacy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Learn and advocate for the diverse legal needs of communities affected by systemic and structural inequities in Santa Clara County and the broader Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability and address social injustice;
Represent low-income tenants in administrative hearings and eviction proceedings at every stage of litigation, including motions, discovery, trials and appeals;
Address access barriers and provide legal assistance to low-income tenants by providing call-backs to tenants seeking help through our Legal Advice Line or other partnerships;
Advocate for tenants on issues of fair housing, substandard conditions, and VAWA;
Identify systemic problems that affect our clients' housing rights and address these challenges through affirmative litigation and policy work;
Collaborate with the local and national tenant advocacy community;
Provide workshops and technical assistance to community partners and client community on housing law, tenants' rights, and a broad range of civil legal issues;
Develop relationships and engage in collaboration with a range of 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; and
Engage in other tasks and projects that further BayLegal's mission and operations as a non-profit.

Requirements/Qualifications/About the Successful Candidate:

Humility in working with colleagues and clients across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and/or limited English proficiency.
Membership in good standing in the California State Bar 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 and willing to take the bar exam at the next available sitting.
Housing law experience or other transferable litigation skills preferred.
Experience directly representing clients in litigation or another similar setting preferred.
Language fluency and proficiency in Spanish, Vietnamese, or another 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.
Curious and self-directed with an ability to anticipate what needs to be done.
Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details.
Sense of humor and proactive problem solver