Description:

About the Position:
Are you interested in joining an organization dedicated to increasing access to justice while addressing systemic inequities among the most vulnerable members of the Greater Los Angeles area? If yes, LAFLA is the place for you!

The Organization: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved—leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Celebrating 95 years of service to Los Angeles communities, LAFLA is the first and most experienced legal aid organization in Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has more than 200 employees, including more than 100 attorneys, who provide free services and resources on a broad range of civil legal issues that impact healthy, safety, and self-sufficiency. Every year, LAFLA helps more than 100,000 people find their voice, regain control of their lives, and build a brighter future. Our unique combination of neighborhood offices, self-help centers at courthouses, and domestic violence clinics puts LAFLA on the frontlines in communities at the forefront of change. LAFLA also engages in impact litigation to help enact long-term systemic change—actively collaborating with a network of public and private partners to expand access to justice, identify needs in the communities we serve, and change laws and policies that adversely affect the underserved. For more information, please visit www.lafla.org.

The Workgroup: LAFLA's Santa Monica Workgroup is a community office assisting residents in the areas of housing, public benefits, and domestic violence and family advocacy, and operating for 30 years in Santa Monica. We often coordinate our advocacy with other non-profits, community-based organizations, and local government agencies to help our clients gain the best results through a holistic model of community advocacy.

The Project: Stay Housed Los Angeles, Santa Monica is a new project to bring much-needed eviction defense resources to tenants in Santa Monica and may be the first step towards a “Right to Counsel” for tenant eviction defense in Santa Monica. The team will work in collaboration with other internal and external eviction defense projects as well as a multi-organizational coalition.

LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Supervising Attorney.

Qualifications:

Active membership in the California State Bar;
Minimum four (4) years' experience in the practice of housing law, including broad experience in lawyering skills, including client interviewing, legal research, drafting, negotiation, motion and discovery techniques, and trial work;
Demonstrated knowledge of landlord-tenant, housing law, and the eviction process;
Willingness to assume responsibility quickly;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail;
Demonstrated ability to handle direct service cases and impact cases of a complex nature;
Previous experience in a legal services program preferred;
Ability to track, maintain and report statistics to funders;
Ability to work cooperatively with staff at all levels of the Foundation;
Excellent people skills and the ability to maintain positive relations with a diverse population;
Previous experience supervising or mentoring attorneys preferred.
Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.5-hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and workweeks in excess of 35 hours when caseload or other obligations so necessitate.

Examples of Duties:

Supervise attorneys and other staff under the direction of the Managing Attorney;
Work closely with the Managing Attorney of the workgroup;
Train, mentor and co-counsel with staff attorneys and post graduate fellows;
Provide appropriate oversight and guidance on legal services provided by staff;
Participate in weekly housing rights clinics, both in-person and through Zoom;
Review retained cases on a regular basis;
Supervise the maintenance of proper case files and time records;
Implement LAFLA's Performance Standards and draft staff evaluations;
Coordinate service delivery with court administrative staff and Judicial Officers;
Attend various community partner meetings;
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.