Attorney (Homelessness Prevention) – Restoring Communities Workgroup

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Long-term care insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Bilingual supplements

Law student loan reimbursements

Cell phone stipend

Job summary

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) seeks an attorney to provide legal services to households facing homelessness or eviction within the Restoring Communities (ReCo) program. The role emphasizes housing justice, tenant representation in court, and collaboration with case managers to deliver holistic services.

Applicants should have active California State Bar membership and demonstrate strong writing and public speaking skills, with a willingness to work extended hours when needed.

Qualifications

• Active membership in the California State Bar.
• Experience with diverse poverty law issues preferred.
• Knowledge of landlord-tenant law, government benefits, or expungement preferred.
• Ability to manage a large caseload effectively.
• Commitment to serving low-income and homeless individuals.
• Ability to collaborate with attorneys, staff, volunteers, and students.
• Ability to partner with community organizations and agencies.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Willingness to work longer hours when caseload requires.

Responsibilities

• Interview and counsel clients on various legal issues.
• Work collaboratively with case managers to provide holistic services.
• Represent tenants facing eviction in court.
• Assist clients with government benefits applications and appeals.
• Visit clients at various locations.
• Participate in clinics and other community outreach projects.
• Work on policy issues relating to homelessness and holistic services.
• Assist clients with expungement of criminal records, debt relief and restoration of license to remove clients’ legal barriers to housing and benefits.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Bar admission

Poverty law experience

Landlord-tenant law knowledge

Large caseload management

Commitment to underserved

Team collaboration

Cross-agency collaboration

Writing skills

Public speaking

Willingness to long hours

Education

California Bar License

Job 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!

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:

The Restoring Communities(“ReCo”) advocates use a community lawyering model to advocate for the rights and relief of justice-impacted individuals. ReCo is dedicated entirely to providing holistic legal services to remove legal barriers to reentry, providing community education, collaborating with community partners, and engaging in systemic change to support the restoration of justice-impacted individuals and their communities.

The Position:

The position will provide legal services to households facing homelessness and/or imminent eviction.

LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Attorney.

NOTE – This position is part of a special program created using designated funds. There is no assurance of ongoing funding or employment beyond June 30, 2027

Qualifications:

• Active membership in the California State Bar;


• Prefer experience working in diverse poverty law issues;


• Some knowledge of landlord-tenant law, government benefits, or criminal expungement is preferred;


• Ability to work effectively with a large caseload;


• Demonstrated commitment to serving the needs of low-income and homeless individuals;


• Ability to work effectively as part of a team including other attorneys, support staff, volunteers, and students;


• Ability to work effectively with staff members from community-based organizations, government agencies, and homeless service providers;


• Excellent writing and public speaking skills; and


• 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:

• Interview and counsel clients on various legal issues;


• Work collaboratively with case managers to provide holistic services;


• Represent tenants facing eviction in court;


• Assist clients with government benefits applications and appeals;


• Able to visit clients at various locations;


• Participate in clinics and other community outreach projects;


• Work on policy issues relating to homelessness and holistic services;


• Assist clients with expungement of criminal records, debt relief and restoration of license to remove clients’ legal barriers to housing and benefits; and


• Other duties as assigned.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

A one year probationary period will be required.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital or registered domestic partners status, or any other legally protected status.

The organization is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process or expect to require an accommodation if hired, please contact [e-mail].

Benefits & Compensation

LAFLA offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend.