Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA), is a California, state-wide, non-profit law office, dedicated to economic justice for Californians, particularly those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly, immigrants, people of color and people with disabilities. HERA is focused on asset preservation and economic justice across a wide swath of household financial concerns. Housing stability is a key focus. We not only work on a broad range of debt and credit concerns, but we also work on credit building, credit reporting, equal access to affordable and reputable financial services. We are based in Oakland, California, near Lake Merritt, and we carry out our work across the state through a combination of strategies, including non-litigation advocacy, administrative advocacy, community education and outreach, litigation, individual counseling, technical assistance and training for legal services and private attorneys, as well as governmental and non-governmental agencies, and policy work in partnership with other agencies.
We are hiring for a staff attorney focused primarily on housing concerns. Staff Attorneys in housing carry their own caseload of both non-litigation and litigation cases. The particular positions open at this time requires significant non-litigation advocacy on behalf of tenants and homeowners, as well as significant litigation on their behalf, administrative advocacy with a wide variety of agencies, local state and federal. The position will include smaller amounts of litigation and non-litigation consumer legal services and advocacy in other subject areas related to asset preservation. The following are examples of typical duties. Other duties may be assigned by the Executive Director or other program managers.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Excellent legal research and writing
• Attention to detail a must.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and oral)
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Excellent organizational and training skills
• Ability to understand and work in a non-profit, law office environment
• A passion for problem solving.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects.
• Bilingual ability in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin or Tagalog (ability to converse, handle client interviews)
Requires a Juris Doctorate and license to practice law, in good standing, in California. Positions available for new attorneys as well as more experienced. We welcome the possibility of a more experienced attorney joining.
Please email a resume, a list of three references with addresses and phone numbers, plus a legal writing sample to Maeve Elise Brown, Executive Director, Housing and Economic rights Advocates at [email protected]. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you have not heard back from us within one week, please call Ms. Brown at 510 271-8443 ext. 307 to verify receipt of your application.