Staff Attorney

California Center for Movement Legal Services; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

California Center for Movement Legal Services in Los Angeles is seeking a Staff Attorney to practice unlawful detainers and affirmative litigation, with a focus on eviction defense representation for tenants, tenant organizers, and tenant associations. You will manage a caseload of about 40 cases per year.

This role also involves occasional policy advocacy for ACCE or other clients, including ordinance drafting and advocacy with elected officials’ offices.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed to practice law in California.
• Experience in eviction defense is preferred.
• Strong litigation and oral advocacy foundation.

Responsibilities

• Provide eviction defense representation to tenants, tenant organizers, and tenant associations.
• Manage a caseload of approximately 40 cases per year.
• Contribute to policy advocacy, including ordinance drafting and engagement with elected officials.
• Mentor in litigation and advocacy areas as needed.

Skills

Litigation

Oral advocacy

Tenant rights advocacy

Community organizing

Spanish language

Mandarin language

Cantonese language

Job description

The Staff Attorney will be practicing unlawful detainers and affirmative litigation in the spirit and scope of impact litigation, policy development, and community organizing. The Staff Attorney’s primary role will be providing eviction defense representation to tenants, tenant organizers, and tenant associations, managing a caseload of approximately 40 cases per year.

This position will also do occasional work on policy advocacy matters for ACCE or other organizational clients, including ordinance drafting and advocacy with elected officials’ offices. The Staff Attorney will be mentored in these areas but will require a strong foundation in litigation and oral advocacy.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Licensed to practice law in California
• References including litigation colleagues/supervisor
• Passion for tenants’ rights advocacy

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Some eviction defense experience
• Conversational in language(s) other than English (Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese)
• Experience working with or as a community organizer