ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND: The Housing Rights Center (“HRC”) is dedicated to achieving discrimination-free housing. HRC is the nation’s largest private, non-profit fair housing advocacy organization. The Director will work in HRC’s main office in Los Angeles, where it has a full-time staff of thirty and offers: (1) housing discrimination investigation, (2) enforcement and impact litigation, (3) outreach and education, (4) general landlord/tenant counseling and (5) fair housing advocacy. HRC’s litigation team represents victims of housing discrimination in state and federal lawsuits, and, in appropriate cases, represents HRC as an organizational plaintiff. HRC’s litigators have recovered millions of dollars in damages and attorney’s fees for discrimination victims, obtained district and appellate-level decisions on important fair housing questions, and achieved substantial injunctive relief through the entry of numerous consent decrees. Their work also focuses on achieving compliance pre-litigation where many cases are favorably settled. The Litigation Director will work under the supervision of HRC’s Executive Director.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Represent clients in all stages of housing discrimination litigation including case settlement;
• Carry an independent case load while also supervising the case load of 2-3 staff attorneys;
• Develop and litigate cases at the trial and appellate level in federal and state court;
• Regularly report to the Executive Director and to HRC’s Board of Directors Litigation Subcommittee regarding the status, development, and results of litigation;
• Meet or exceed goals for attorney’s fee and damages recoveries;
• Lead communications, including garnering and handling media coverage for litigation and publishing articles regarding fair housing;
• Provide support to staff on housing discrimination issues;
• Conduct training and fair housing presentations;
• Conduct legal research and provide support on fair housing policy issues;
• Initiate and effectively implement special projects involving fair housing advocacy.
QUALIFICATIONS: Active California Bar membership with at least seven years of litigation experience including conducting/defending depositions, drafting pleadings, and educational materials; a demonstrated interest in civil rights and social justice issues is required and candidates from the for-profit sector are also welcome to apply; strong ability to work independently and with substantial responsibility; experience with diverse populations; strong writing and public speaking skills; and demonstrated experience in legal research, client interviewing, negotiations, case damages estimation, and the ability to work under pressure. Knowledge of fair housing law and fair housing case settlements is preferred. Ability to speak a second language is a plus.
Please e-mail a resume and letter of interest to Chancela Al-Mansour, HRC’s Executive Director, at [email protected]. Add "Director of Litigation" to the subject line.