Housing Rights Attorney

Housing Rights Attorney

Exempt, Full-time position
Application deadline – Open until filled

Housing Rights Attorney

This is an exciting opportunity to work on the front lines of eviction defense at a leading civil rights organization. Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (Advancing Justice-ALC) is the nation’s oldest legal organization focusing on the civil rights of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Since 1972, Advancing Justice-ALC has worked with diverse local communities through direct legal representation and community education. This community work has led to high-profile litigation and local, state and federal policy advocacy. Our current program areas include Immigrant Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, Housing Rights, National Security and Civil Rights, Workers’ Rights, Voting Rights, and ASPIRE.

Position Summary: Advancing Justice-ALC is recruiting a staff attorney to advocate on tenant rights, fair housing, affordable housing, and other housing issues. S/he will provide housing legal services addressing the needs of Asian American, Pacific Islander, and other vulnerable immigrant communities ranging from eviction defense to Rent Board proceedings and other landlord/tenant disputes. The staff attorney will stay closely connected to grassroots communities by sharing legal and policy developments and advocating for change. Additional areas of legal expertise preferred include fair housing, Social Security, public benefits, and elder law. Previous experience with housing rights and litigation is strongly desired.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide full-scope representation in unlawful detainer cases and other litigation and administrative proceedings (e.g., Rent Board)
• Advise and counsel tenant households and tenant associations
• Participate in coordination and supervision of legal clinics
• Maintain knowledge and compliance with government contract deliverables
• Supervise community advocates, law clerks, and other personnel
• Engage in public policy advocacy, community legal education, and coalition building

Preferred Qualifications:
• A minimum of two years legal services or litigation experience, ideally with familiarity in practicing in a non-profit context and on tenant rights, fair housing, affordable housing, and other housing issues
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights of low-income, API, people of color, senior, disabled and/or immigrant communities
• Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with a diverse group of mission-driven lawyers and staff with a range of substantive law knowledge, experience and expertise
• Highly motivated and self-starting
• B.A./B.S. and J.D. degrees with membership in good standing with the California State Bar
• Preferred bilingual skills in Asian and Pacific Islander language(s)
• Preferred experience in supervising non-legal staff

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary range for this position is $54,000-$65,000 depending on experience. Salary is based on principles of internal equity. A full benefits package is included. This is a full-time, exempt position.

Application Process:
Interested candidates should submit via email (Microsoft Word compatible attachments) a cover letter and resume summarizing your interest, qualifications and experience, and three professional references to [email protected]. Indicate “Housing Rights Attorney application” in the subject line. Target start date is March, 2017. Please no phone calls.

Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply, regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, height, weight, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, HIV status, marital or domestic partner status, or religious affiliation.