Staff Attorney - Homelessness Prevention (Affirmative Litigation)

Description

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 staff of approximately 170. 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 by providing direct legal representation to tenants in litigation against their landlords. The Homelessness Prevention Affirmative Litigation team fights to vindicate the rights of tenants to live in safe, well-cared-for, secure housing, free of harassment and discrimination. The team focuses on litigation addressing a range of housing-related injustices, including habitability concerns, illegal lockouts, constructive evictions, discriminatory housing practices, and tenant harassment.

In addition, our team identifies systemic barriers to stable housing and partners with community-based organizations, tenant groups, and government agencies to advocate for fair housing practices, rent control, habitability standards, and equitable access to housing subsidies and public benefits. By initiating affirmative litigation and policy advocacy at local, state, and national levels, we seek not only justice for individual tenants but lasting systemic change for our communities.

 JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Managing Attorney, the Staff Attorney will:

• Carry an individual caseload of affirmative housing lawsuits to vindicate the rights of tenants to live in safe, well-cared-for, secure housing, free of harassment and discrimination 
• Participate in the full breadth of civil litigation activities, including client interviews, site visits, factual and expert investigation, discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, evidentiary hearings, depositions, trial preparation, trial, appeals, and post-judgment advocacy
• Conduct effective and efficient legal research and prepare sound written analysis on legal issues affecting tenants and vulnerable communities
• Produce polished and near-final quality written work, including complaints, pleadings, motions, briefs, declarations, memoranda, and other advocacy materials
• Prepare and participate in effective oral advocacy before trial and appellate courts and administrative agencies
• Manage litigation involving multiple plaintiffs and coordinate with pro bono partners
• Draft memoranda assessing litigation opportunities and recommending legal strategy
• Participate in discussions with internal and external partners regarding program design and priorities, including the United to House LA (ULA) Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO)
• Organize and staff quarterly TAHO legal clinics at Public Counsel and community locations
• Provide technical assistance to representatives of the Los Angeles Housing Department regarding enforcement of TAHO
• Develop, build, and sustain collaborative relationships with clients, affected communities, community-based organizations, tenant groups, government agencies, advocates, and pro bono partners to support affirmative litigation
• Perform case management responsibilities, including maintaining digital case files, document management, case notes, timekeeping, and calendar entries
• Assist with preparation of grant reports regarding case statistics and outcomes
• Supervise law clerks, interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys, as appropriate
• Monitor legal developments affecting tenants and low-income communities vulnerable to housing injustice, and identify opportunities for litigation that support systemic reform and client-centered advocacy goals 
• Work on existing affirmative litigation and identify, evaluate, and develop new litigation opportunities in collaboration with the Managing Attorney, Director of Litigation, Public Counsel staff, community partners, and pro bono partners
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• 3-7 years of relevant civil litigation experience
• Juris Doctor degree and a member in good standing of the California State Bar
• Strong legal research, writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills 
• Demonstrated interest in civil rights, housing rights, and/or public interest law 
• Experience litigating landlord-tenant, habitability, tenant harassment, affirmative housing, or other impact litigation matters is desirable
• Excellent oral advocacy and written communications skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely
• Attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet internal and external deadlines
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, take ownership of assigned work, and follow matters through to completion while appropriately identifying issues that require consultation or supervisory input
• Ability to manage a professional workload through sound judgment, effective prioritization, and efficient work habits while remaining responsive to the evolving demands of litigation
• Commitment to investing the time, effort, and flexibility necessary to provide exceptional client representation, meet professional obligations, and continue developing as an advocate and litigator
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently while seeking guidance when appropriate
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach with the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, clients, pro bono partners, experts, and community organizations and members
• Ability to work cooperatively across Public Counsel teams, sharing information, expertise, and responsibility to advance client and organizational goals
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, including the ability to receive, incorporate, and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, remain open to new approaches, and contribute positively to an evolving litigation practice
• Commitment to client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy, and developing litigation strategies and remedies that are informed by, accountable to, and responsive to directly impacted communities
• Ability to travel throughout Los Angeles County  
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish is desirable
• Exempt employees are expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and must work all additional time necessary to accomplish job duties in a timely and professional manner. They must be flexible in work hours so as to provide superior quality and timely service to clients consistent with the position and professional responsibility obligations. 

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/exempt
• Salary range for an attorney with 3–7 years of experience is $80,000 to $90,500, depending upon years of experience. 
• Bargaining
• Probationary period: 9 months 
• Fixed-duration position funded for one year from start date. This position is created with designated funds for one year from start date. 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
• 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

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.