Join the Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) and become part of an energetic team of advocates that provide a wide-range of legal services aimed to address issues that disproportionately impact low income communities. These services include litigation, providing training and technical assistance, and community education.
About NLSLA:
Founded in 1965 as part of our nation’s War on Poverty, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) is now one of the largest and most prominent public interest law firms in California. NLSLA provides free assistance to more than 115,000 low-income residents of Los Angeles County each year. The NLSLA staff of 190, including 80 attorneys, specialize in areas of the law that disproportionately impact low-income people, including affordable housing and eviction defense, access to public benefits, support for domestic violence victims, access to healthcare, worker and consumer rights, services for justice-involved adults and youth, education rights, clean slate initiatives, and employment and training.
Through a combination of individual representation, high impact litigation, and public policy advocacy, NLSLA’s advocacy combats the immediate and long-parting effects of poverty and expands access to health, opportunity and justice. NLSLA serves all of Los Angeles County with a special emphasis on the poverty communities of the San Fernando, San Gabriel, Pomona and Antelope Valleys, as well as the central county cities of Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena. In addition, NLSLA advocates are co-located in courthouses in Van Nuys, Lancaster, Chatsworth, Pomona, Pasadena, and Downtown LA; Hospitals and health centers in Sylmar, Van Nuys, North Hollywood and El Monte; and with social services providers in the Antelope Valley.
Summary of Position:
NLSLA is currently seeking an attorney to join our Strategic Community Advocacy & Litigation for Equity (SCALE) team. SCALE attorneys work to dismantle barriers to housing and economic stability through systemic litigation with a focus on community lawyering. The candidate will staff advocacy and litigation seeking, among other things, to enforce local rent control laws and just cause requirements, preserve affordable and federally-subsidized tenancies, and address issues of fair housing, and may also have the opportunity to work on litigation in some of NLSLA’s other substantive legal practice groups. Attorneys in this role will also work with community partners and provide education and outreach to relevant stakeholders.
The candidate must have a demonstrated passion and commitment to public interest law. Prior experience serving low-income individuals and client groups preferred. The ideal candidate should possess a minimum of 2 years of litigation experience, including strong research and writing skills, experience with discovery and motions practice, and well-developed analytical and time-management skills. The candidate must be self-motivated and have the ability to work well individually and as part of a collaborative team. Bilingual proficiency in a language commonly spoken in our client communities strongly preferred.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The SCALE attorney will manage a caseload commensurate with experience and may litigate cases through trial including filing motions, propounding discovery, developing claims, trying cases, and engaging in settlement negotiations. The attorney will also develop and maintain expertise on a range of issues affecting low-income individuals and provide outreach and education to community groups. Travel between NLSLA program offices and Los Angeles Superior courts will be required.
Excellent Benefits which include: choice of medical, dental, vision; life and disability insurance plans; flexible spending account (FSA)125 plan; 403(b) with employer contribution, loan reimbursement, bilingual pay supplement, sick and vacation pay, and 14 employer-paid holidays. Salary starts at $76,000- $84,000- commensurate with experience.
Candidates should have a JD and membership in the California State Bar, and ideally 2 years of litigation experience. Prior experience in public interest law and working with low-income client groups preferred. Individuals should be highly motivated and passionate about public service work with excellent writing, speaking and organizational skills. The SCALE attorney will need to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Bilingual proficiency in a language commonly spoken in our client communities strongly preferred.
COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered.
NLSLA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at NLSLA are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to age, race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by federal and CA state laws. NLSLA will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. NLSLA provides equal benefits to employees with spouses and its employees with domestic partners.
https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/1901537/Neighbo...
To apply:
Please provide a cover letter, resume, and writing sample on the application.