Attorney – Survivor and Family Justice Workgroup

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Wellness program

Bilingual supplements

Student loan reimbursements

Cell phone stipend

403(b) retirement plan

Medical, dental, vision

Job summary

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is seeking an Attorney - Family Law to join the Survivor and Family Justice Workgroup in Los Angeles. The role involves representing victims of domestic violence and managing a family law docket through court clinics and community programs.

The ideal candidate will have CA Bar admission, 2+ years in state-family law litigation, and a commitment to serving low-income communities. A hybrid work schedule and bilingual abilities are valued and supported by LAFLA.

Qualifications

• Active member in the California State Bar.
• 2+ years of litigation experience in State Court in family law.
• Knowledge of domestic violence and family law.
• Interest in maintaining a docket of active family law/restraining order cases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to function professionally and effectively under pressure.
• Experience working with diverse client populations, including low-income communities.
• Bilingual preferred.
• Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0 hour workday, including evenings and weekends when caseload requires.
• Comfortable multitasking across multiple computer programs (MS Teams, Outlook, Zoom, case management).

Responsibilities

• Engage in outreach activities to reach potential clients.
• Carry an active caseload of direct legal services to victims of domestic violence in family law matters; may handle ~1–2 hearings/week.
• Communicate with referring partner agencies as necessary.
• Staff and supervise volunteers/students at domestic violence and family law clinics at courthouses.
• Identify significant legal needs and develop plans, including litigation and policy, to address those needs.
• Conduct domestic violence-related family law trainings for client communities and service providers.
• With the Pro Bono Director, recruit, train and supervise volunteer attorneys and law students.

Skills

Excellent communication

Docket management

Under pressure

Versatile multitasking

Diversity experience

Bilingual (preferred)

Client-services mindset

Education

California Bar admission

Tools

MS Teams

Outlook

Zoom

Case management software

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!

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 Survivor and Family Justice Workgroup assists survivors of domestic violence with restraining order and family law matters in Los Angeles County. Attorneys work with clients through direct representation, court-based domestic violence clinics, community domestic violence clinics, and virtual family law drafting appointments. The Workgroup itself is a supportive group of paralegals and attorneys who enjoy learning and strategizing together and prioritize supporting their colleagues. We look forward to welcoming a new attorney to our team! LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Attorney - Family Law. NOTE - This role will report out of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse Domestic Violence Clinic in Downtown Los Angeles every Monday.

Qualifications

• Active member in the California State Bar;
• 2 + years of litigation experience in State Court in family law proceedings;
• Demonstrated knowledge of domestic violence and family law;
• Genuine interest in maintaining a docket of active family law/restraining order cases;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to function professionally and effectively under pressure;
• Experience working with diverse client populations, including low-income communities;
• Bilingual preferred;
• 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 caseload so necessitates; and
• Comfortable multi-tasking as necessary, meaning utilizing multiple computer programs at once, including MS Teams and outlook, zoom, and case management software.

Examples of Duties

• Engage in outreach activities (tabling, clinics, community events) to reach potential clients;
• Carry an active caseload of direct legal services to victims of domestic violence in domestic violence and family law matters - applicants can expect to eventually handle on average approximately 1-2 hearings/week;
• Communicate with referring partner-agencies as necessary;
• Staff and supervise volunteers/students at domestic violence and family law clinics at local courthouses several times a month;
• Identify significant legal needs and issues for survivors of domestic violence in the area of family law and develop plans, including litigation and policy, to address those needs;
• Conduct domestic violence-related family law trainings to client communities, partner organizations, community groups and related service providers; and
• In conjunction with the Pro Bono Director, recruit, train and supervise volunteer attorneys and law students.

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.

COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYEE WELLNESS

Due to the mission driven nature of the organization, LAFLA is committed to a healthy work-life balance for all staff. In addition to a hybrid work schedule and robust benefits package, LAFLA staff enjoy wellness related benefits and employee assistance programs through our offered medical plans, as well as Wellness Friday video sessions, a wellness content library, 15 LAFLA observed holidays, and generous time off benefits.

SUSTAINABLE HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE

LAFLA has recently adopted a sustainable schedule whereby employees get several Fridays off during the year. Depending on job classifications, some LAFLA staff are working on a manager approved hybrid work schedule, with the ability to work remotely up to half the week, if preferred, after the probationary period. The successful candidate must be local and willing to work from the assigned LAFLA location.