Description:

Position Summary:
In concert with and at the direction of the Housing Managing Attorney, effectively represents clients in all phases of unlawful detainer litigation; supervises, advises and co-counsels with lesser experienced staff attorneys to improve their litigation and advocacy skills in delivering legal services to our client community in all types of housing and landlord-tenant issues. Is responsible for all required administrative functions and grant requirements of their team. Responsible for the optimum functioning of a specialized law team in a legal aid environment.

Note: The Interim Supervising Attorney position is a temporary position. The Supervising Attorney position on Housing Team will remain open until it is filled by another candidate that meets the full qualifications or until the Interim Supervising Attorney meets the minimum qualifications and is offered the position.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Assists the Housing Managing Attorney with supervision of a large team comprised of staff attorneys, advocates, support staff, and volunteers.
  • Represents clients in all phases of litigation and pre-litigation matters.
  • Trains and assists less experienced attorneys to become effective in representation of their clients through trial preparation, drafting of pleadings, discovery, negotiation, research and case strategy.
  • Trains and supervises advocates to ensure effective representation of clients in administrative matters and proceedings.
  • Assists the Managing Attorney in evaluating the work of and creating professional development plans for staff underneath their direct supervision.
  • Timely and accurately performs all team administrative duties for the benefit of the program and as an example to their staff (e.g., is punctual, sets a good attendance example for staff, daily entry of time and case notes into the Case Management System, and timely completes administrative and required regulatory and contractual tasks).
  • Reviews closed cases of staff to ensure appropriate handling and compliance with grant requirements.
  • Maintains data, records, case files in compliance with funding and programmatic requirements.
  • Helps manage grant projects, including review of staff time and case note entries, monitoring productivity, and preparation of documentation and information as requested by funders, etc.
  • Develops and implements mid and long-term strategies for resolution of identified systemic barriers to our clients' economic and social security.
  • Engages in community outreach and education.
  • Works with our client communities to develop and implement new strategies for resolution of systemic problems which adversely affect them.
  • Develops positive working relationship with the court and other partner organizations.
  • Compliance with all program and grant requirements.
  • Other tasks as may be assigned.

Requirements:
Qualifications:
  • Must be a member of the California Bar.
  • The Interim Supervising Attorney position must have at least two (2) years' experience as a practicing attorney, one (1) of which must be in civil poverty law or public interest law.
  • Must have demonstrated capabilities in using basic tools of a litigating attorney: drafting answers, propounding and responding to discovery, depositions, negotiations, law and motion trial experience, and post-trial remedies including post-trial motions, writs and appeals.
  • Must have the desire and demonstrated capacity to train and mentor lesser experienced attorneys.
  • Demonstrated experience in working with and representing our client communities.
  • Demonstrated skills in managing others in a regulated climate and ensuring personal and team compliance with such regulations.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with other teams, the public, volunteers, court personnel, government agencies, and partner organizations.
  • Must have demonstrated capability to support team efforts and to strategize/plan in order to timely and consistently meet grant deliverables and reporting requirements.
  • High level of attention to detail required.
  • Skill in working independently and following through on assignments with accuracy and minimal direction.
  • Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required by events and deadlines.

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Fluency in written and spoken Spanish preferred.
  • Must have demonstrated knowledge of or experience with administrative proceedings.
  • Must have demonstrated knowledge, skills and experience in housing law (landlord-tenant law, unlawful detainer proceedings, and administrative law pertaining to subsidized housing) with the ability to develop procedural and substantive strategies to effectively represent clients and undertake resolution of structural inequities affecting our client population.
  • Excellent Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills
  • Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people
  • Ability to work successfully with people from diverse backgrounds