Description:
The Position: The Disaster Legal Services Manager will be part of the Disaster Legal Services project under the supervision of the LAFLA Pro Bono Team. The Manager will oversee a disaster response attorney, two legal fellows, and possibly other staff to collaborate on disaster relief clinics, cases, projects and impact litigation with other LAFLA management, staff, volunteers, and contractors to provide legal services to affected clients.LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Managing Attorney (Disaster Legal Services).
Qualifications:
- Active membership in the California State Bar required.
- Minimum six (6) to eight (8) years of experience in the practice of law, including broad experience in lawyering skills, including client interviewing, legal research, writing, negotiations, litigation and discovery techniques, trial work and appellate work in both state and federal courts;
- Prior experience in the practice of housing law preferred;
- Prior disaster-related experience preferred;
- Willingness to assume responsibility quickly;
- Demonstrated ability to supervise the legal work of others engaged in direct services, policy advocacy, transactional work, litigation, and impact cases; Knowledge of basic principles of administration and management;
- Previous experience in a legal services program preferred;
- Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail;
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the proven ability to relate to diverse individuals with respect and humility on a consistent basis;
- Ability to work effectively with diverse staff and partners, including court and judicial staff, volunteers, and community-based organizations;
- Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0-hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and workweeks in excess of 35 hours when obligations so necessitate.
Examples of Duties:
- Help LAFLA design sustainable model for new disaster legal services practice area by identifying priority cases, assigning work to best meet the legal needs of community members affected by the wildfire disaster, and developing new systems of service delivery with the input of the Pro Bono Team;
- Responsible for the oversight and supervision of 3+ attorneys/post-graduate fellows in disaster response legal work;
- Work closely with other LAFLA staff and pro bono partners on disaster related clinics, cases and projects;
- Provide disaster legal services related to housing including but not limited to landlord tenant problems, mortgage and homeownership issues, home repair contracts and property insurance claims;
- Provide disaster legal services related to consumer protection and public assistance in areas such as price gouging, scams, identity theft, disability related access to federal/state/local disaster programs, vital records replacement, and FEMA, SBA, SNAP, Unemployment and other public benefits;
- Litigate cases in various courthouses in Los Angeles County;
- Represent clients at administrative hearings and writs;
- Conduct regular case reviews for disaster staff to ensure that legal services provided are consistent with LAFLA's priorities, policies and procedures, and that they maximize office resources to provide the highest quality client service; Supervise timekeeping, conduct performance evaluations and implement performance standards of staff;
- Work on policy issues relating to disaster issues with community-based organizations, legal services providers, and pro bono partners;
- Participate in substantive training and resource development;
- Help manage grant compliance and, as necessary, identify and pursue additional grants and other funding opportunities;
- Coordinate, oversee and attend pro bono disaster response clinics and related events;
- Provide mentorship and support to pro bono attorneys working on disaster related cases assigned by LAFLA; and
- Other duties to support the Pro Bono Team.
