ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL
Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.
Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.
Public Counsel has a full-time staff of over 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.
ABOUT HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
Public Counsel’s Homelessness Prevention team serves individuals who are at high risk of becoming homeless or are currently unhoused. The team assists unrepresented low-income litigants in unlawful detainer (eviction) actions, and provides pre-litigation counsel and advice to tenants who are involved in a landlord-tenant dispute. The team also provides pro bono representation to homeless individuals and families to help remove legal barriers to obtaining permanent housing. In addition, we run several community clinics to connect low-income Angelinos with free legal advice and provide educational workshops in collaboration with community-based organizations.
In addition to our homelessness prevention and anti-displacement efforts, our recent work includes:
Supporting local tenants in their successful efforts to obtain and preserve COVID-related eviction protections
Working with community-based organizations to provide know-your-rights presentations and workshops to tenants on new and constantly-changing housing laws
Teaming up with other non-profit legal services providers, tenant organizers and community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles County to push forward the implementation of a Right to Counsel for all tenants in eviction proceedings
JOB SUMMARY
The Supervising Attorney position is a full-time position based at Public Counsel’s 610 S. Ardmore office. The Supervising Attorney will oversee Public Counsel’s Shriver Housing Project. The Shriver Housing Project is a project authorized under the Shriver Civil Counsel Act (AB 590) to demonstrate the benefits of providing counsel to clients in high-stakes civil litigation such as the possible loss of housing. Although not a pure civil Gideon project, the Shriver Housing Project assists thousands of unrepresented low-income litigants in unlawful detainer actions each year. This position will oversee a team of three or more Staff Attorneys and three paralegals dedicated to this effort.
The Supervising Attorney will also help maintain and grow relationships with funders and community partners, and manage the administrative aspects of the project. This position may involve off-site clinics and workshops, and will require court appearances throughout Los Angeles County as needed. The Supervising Attorney will report to HPLP’s Directing Attorney.
Reporting to the Directing Attorney, the Supervising Attorney will:
Supervise direct services staff and casework
Maintain a caseload balanced with other supervisorial and administrative duties
Train, mentor, and support the professional development of staff
Provide litigation support to staff
Collaborate with the Directing Attorney and team members to assist with program design, development, oversight,and administration
Complete grant reporting, billing, and outcome tracking
Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external partners
Act as a resource regarding unlawful detainer cases and other housing issues for community-based organizations and partner agencies
Train and provide support to pro bono volunteers
Coordinate and participate in community outreach, including trainings, coalition meetings, and special projects as assigned
Perform other duties as assigned
ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Juris Doctor degree and licensed in California is preferred, but will consider attorneys licensed in other state(s) willing to sit for the next California bar
At least 5 years of relevant public interest law experience
Civil litigation experience, including jury trial experience
Excellent negotiation skills
Comfort with trauma-informed legal advocacy: empathy, responsive listening, restraint from judgment, and demonstration of authentic care and concern
Commitments to race equity work and community lawyering, and willingness to incorporate race equity principles and community lawyering in practice
Ability to effectively supervise legal work in a fast-paced environment and high volume practice;
Experience managing and motivating a team
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to create a culture of feedback and continual improvement;
Organization skills and attention to detail
Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to commute throughout Los Angeles County
PREFERRED JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Familiarity with unlawful detainer practice and landlord-tenant laws strongly preferred
Ability to read, write and speak fluently in Spanish strongly preferred
JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS
Full-time/exempt
Salary range for an attorney with 5–10 years of experience is $84,800–$99,900, depending upon years of experience, plus a $15,600 supervisor supplement for a total range of $100,400–$115,500
Non-bargaining
Fixed-duration position funded until September 30, 2026. This position is created with designated funds through September 30, 2026. Continued employment past this date is contingent on additional funding for the position.
Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:
Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage
Dental and vision coverage
Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans
Generous paid time off (per year):
15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
2 personal observance days
11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)
Additional benefits:
403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution
Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement
$45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
Provision of an internet gateway and an iPhone to managers for work-related use
Up to 6 months of parental leave
Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
Professional development support and opportunities
Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization
Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions
HOW TO APPLY
We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please consider discussing such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume.
PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.
Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders.
PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY
Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.
All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.
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