Description:

Description:
Who We Are:
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (“Law Foundation”) is dedicated to advancing the rights of historically excluded individuals and families throughout Santa Clara County. Through our legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach, we empower over 15,000 individuals and families each year. Our Housing, Children & Youth, Health and Pro Bono Programs use legal advocacy as a catalyst for social change, creating innovative solutions to the legal challenges facing low-income communities in our region. With a dedicated team of over 75 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. Learn more at https://www.lawfoundation.org .

The Opportunity:
We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Staff Attorney to join our Housing Program at the Law Foundation. The Housing Program at the Law Foundation is a team including attorneys, community advocates, a social worker, and support staff. The Housing Program seeks to blend direct services, systemic advocacy, and organizing to create impactful change for our community members including tenants, vehicle residents, and unhoused people. Our current policy priorities include strengthened residential code enforcement, right to counsel in eviction cases, tenant anti-displacement policies, and decriminalization of homelessness policies.

In this role, you will leverage litigation, policy advocacy, and organizing strategies to prevent housing loss and community displacement. You will fight housing discrimination, preserve healthy and affordable housing, and bring access to justice to marginalized community members. Your practice will draw from direct services to advocate for systemic advocacy to advance community goals. The exact composition of work will depend on a variety of factors including departmental needs, grant requirements, and the experience and interest of team members. All attorneys are expected to have or gain competency in unlawful detainer representation.

What You'll Do:
As Staff Attorney you will:

Provide zealous representation to clients in eviction court and administrative proceedings. Case load expectations are designed to allow time for systemic advocacy and/or project-based work.
Lead pro per legal clinics and/or assist pro per tenants in navigating eviction court.
Support tenants, vehicle residents, and/or unhoused community organizing strategy development, legal research, advice, and/or legal representation.
Engage in community-driven policy advocacy.
Factual investigation, assisting in development of legal theories and strategy, legal research and briefing, discovery review, depositions, and client communication.
Participate in tenant association meetings, policy coalition meetings, community events, and government hearings as needed.
Support program and organization-wide initiatives, including building race equity;
Provide legal support to non-attorney staff and pro bono volunteers in their work assisting clients.
Collaborate with other Law Foundation departments, including our pro bono department, to provide seamless service delivery to our clients.

Who You Are:
To be successful in this roll, you will have:

Commitment to community lawyering and social justice
Strong litigation skills, including research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, or a desire to build those skills
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
Ability to work effectively in a team with diverse stakeholders
Compassionate and effective communication with individuals in crisis
Ability to identify, investigate and resolve client problems
Ability to analyze, write and present ideas and legal concepts clearly and concisely
Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task
Ability to adapt to client and departmental needs
The ability to work on a team of lawyers and nonlawyer staff on cases and projects.
Willingness to take risks and think outside the box

Requirements:

Current member in good standing with the California State Bar
Some weekend or evening work may be required.
Awareness of how race and other identities shape our work with communities; commitment to
inclusion and belonging.
Alignment with the mission and values of LFSV.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 or similar, with openness to learning new tools
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including use of standard office equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation
A valid driver's license or other reliable transportation (to travel locally as needed for case work and court appearances)

You'll especially stand out if you have: