Home Defense Program Staff Attorney

Atlanta Legal Aid Society; Decatur (GA); On-site; USD 57,375 - 70,125; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

16 paid holidays in 2026

6 weeks of paid time off

Individual health insurance

Educational loan reimbursement

Voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with a 3% match

Job summary

Atlanta Legal Aid Society in Decatur is seeking a staff attorney for its Home Defense Program, dedicated to assisting low-income individuals facing foreclosure and housing issues.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years of legal experience and active membership in the State Bar of Georgia, displaying a strong commitment to public service. This in-office position offers competitive pay and generous benefits including paid holidays and parental leave.

Qualifications

• Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.
• Minimum of three years of relevant legal experience is required.
• Experience in housing and consumer protection law is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Screen, investigate, evaluate, refer, and represent low-income persons in housing matters.
• Handle a mixed caseload using various advocacy methods including legal advice and litigation.
• Participate in community education and bar associations involved in home protection.

Skills

Legal writing

Advocacy

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Bilingual (Spanish preferred)

Education

Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia

Minimum of three years of relevant legal experience

Job description

Atlanta Legal Aid Society ("Legal Aid") seeks a staff attorney for its Home Defense Program. Our non‑profit law firm represents low‑income persons in a variety of civil legal matters including family, housing, consumer, public benefits, education, and health law. The Home Defense Program is a specialty unit within Atlanta Legal Aid that assists individuals and families to prevent the loss of their homes through foreclosure, predatory mortgage lending, or home sale scams. The program is housed within Legal Aid’s Decatur office. The unit currently consists of three full‑time attorneys, one part‑time attorney, one HUD‑certified housing counselor/paralegal, and a paralegal. This is an in‑office position.

Responsibilities

• Screening, investigating, evaluating, referring, and directly representing low‑income persons in danger of losing their homes.
• Handling a mixed caseload using a variety of advocacy methods including legal advice and referral, direct representation, brief service, transactional work, negotiation, mediation, and litigation.
• Participating in community education, task forces, committees, social service organizations, national and local bar associations involved in home protection.

Qualifications

• Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.
• Minimum of three years of relevant legal experience.
• Excellent legal writing, analysis, advocacy, and work ethic are required.
• Experience in civil areas, including housing and consumer protection law, is highly valued.
• Demonstrated commitment to public service, clinical experience, and previous work with low‑income people, with an appreciation for diversity, are strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a collaborative team model and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish, is highly valued.

Salary and Benefits

• This position offers a salary of $63,750, but may vary (up or down) depending on work experience. Salaries are reviewed annually and may be adjusted based on available funding.
• Generous fringe benefits, including 16 paid holidays in 2026, 6 weeks of paid time off (accruing 2.5 days per month), and 6 weeks of parental leave (12 weeks after one year).
• Individual health insurance, including optional dental and vision coverage, with partial payment for dependent health insurance.
• Life, long‑term, and short‑term disability insurance.
• Salary reduction option for a flexible spending account.
• Educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month (after a set off of other loan reimbursement amounts).
• Voluntary tax‑sheltered annuity with a 3% match.
• This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
• State Bar of Georgia dues and CLE expenses.

Atlanta Legal Aid Society considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.