Staff Attorney – Los Angeles

Movement Legal; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

$500 employer contribution to a health savings account

401(k) with 8% employer contribution

Job summary

Movement Legal seeks a Staff Attorney in Los Angeles to focus on eviction defense for underserved communities. This full-time position requires a California law license and experience in litigation advocacy.

You will provide legal representation to tenants, manage a caseload, and participate in policy advocacy. Benefits include medical, dental, and life insurance, and a 401(k) with employer contribution.

Join an inclusive work environment dedicated to community values and empowerment.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Provide eviction defense representation to tenants and tenant associations.
• Make court appearances, including hearings and jury trials.
• Draft complaints, motions, and legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and draft legislation.

Skills

Licensed to practice law in California

Passion for tenants’ rights advocacy

Conversational in language(s) other than English (Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese)

Experience working with or as a community organizer

Job description

The California Center for Movement Legal Services provides legal services in the pursuit of improving the lives of California's traditionally underserved residents, including communities of color, low-income and working families, and undocumented people, by carrying out legal work that fosters relationships with community organizers. Our Los Angeles team focuses mainly on eviction defense across LA County. We are looking for an eviction defense attorney to join our team.

Staff Attorney

Salary: $78,000-90k or commensurate with experience. Hours: 36 hours per week. Location: Los Angeles – hybrid (office, court, remote). Classification: Full‑time Exempt. Benefits: Medical, dental, vision and life insurance; $500 employer contribution to a health savings account; 401(k) with 8% employer contribution.

Requirements

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

Preferred Skills

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

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 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.

Additional Duties

• Make court appearances, including hearings, settlement conferences, and jury trials
• Draft complaints, motions, pleadings, and discovery
• Draft demand letters on behalf of clients
• Attend 1–2 night legal clinics a month and provide brief legal advice to clients
• Conduct legal research
• Draft legal memos
• Draft legislation and advocate for legislation
• Interview clients
• Attend coalition meetings
• Make media appearances
• Draft legal know-your-rights materials and make presentations for community members and attorneys

To Apply

Send a copy of your resume and references to [e-mail]. References should include a litigation colleague or supervisor. No cover letter is necessary, but the initial interview will focus on your litigation experience, professional goals, and community values. Movement Legal is committed to an inclusive, diverse, and accommodating work environment.