Attorney (Community Economic Development Project) - Housing and Communities Workgroup

POSITION: Attorney (Community Economic Development Project) - Housing and Communities Workgroup

LOCATION: South Los Angeles Community Office*

SALARY: $80,000k - $109,485.52k/ annually DOE, with excellent benefits

AVAILABILITY: Immediately

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Continuous until position is filled.

Are you interested in joining an organization dedicated to increasing access to justice while addressing systemic inequities among the most vulnerable members of the Greater Los Angeles area? If yes, LAFLA is the place for you!

The Organization: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved—leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Celebrating 95 years of service to Los Angeles communities, LAFLA is the first and most experienced legal aid organization in Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has more than 200 employees, including more than 100 attorneys, who provide free services and resources on a broad range of civil legal issues that impact healthy, safety, and self-sufficiency. Every year, LAFLA helps more than 100,000 people find their voice, regain control of their lives, and build a brighter future. Our unique combination of neighborhood offices, self-help centers at courthouses, and domestic violence clinics puts LAFLA on the frontlines in communities at the forefront of change. LAFLA also engages in impact litigation to help enact long-term systemic change—actively collaborating with a network of public and private partners to expand access to justice, identify needs in the communities we serve, and change laws and policies that adversely affect the underserved. For more information, please visit www.lafla.org.

The Workgroup: The Housing and Communities Workgroup takes a community lawyering approach to litigation and policy advocacy by supporting tenants and tenant organizations to enforce and enact housing laws. It also provides legal support to community-based organizations seeking to build healthy, economically vibrant communities.

LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Attorney.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Active membership in the California State Bar;
• Experience working with non-profit and community based organizations;
• Demonstrated knowledge of California housing law and/or community economic development related law;
• Public policy advocacy and/or community lawyering experience is considered a plus;
• Excellent written and verbal communication;
• Experience with diverse client population and a commitment to promoting anti-racism;
• Experience handling a variety of legal matters impacting poor and low income populations;
• Ability to manage multiple active cases simultaneously; and
• Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0 hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and workweeks in excess of 35 hours when caseload or other obligations so necessitate.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Provide education to advocates and the community regarding community economic development strategies, equitable development, and nonprofit and small business law, as needed;
• Develop and maintain community relationships including neighborhood leaders, other nonprofit agencies, government officials and employees, and others.
• Advocate for local policy changes and help groups leverage funding streams to further local community economic development.
• Identify and support projects that include creation of affordable housing, development of community-controlled businesses, legal guidance for groups engaged in community wealth building projects and other projects aimed at improving low-income communities;
• Engage in policy advocacy and litigation as needed;
• Participate in housing clinics; and
• Actively participate in community groups and coalitions on issues, such as systemic racism, impacting service-eligible populations.
• Contribute to the organization’s DEI plan and goals (via surveys, interviews, etc), supporting all DEI initiatives and helping to promote inclusion in a thoughtful way;
• To view LAFLA’s Commitment to DEI, please go to https://lafla.org/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion-justice-at-lafla/

HOW TO APPLY - Please submit a cover letter and resume online to hocojobs@lafla.org. Include “Attorney – HoCo (Tenant Empowerment)” in the subject line.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD – A one year introductory period will be required.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital or registered domestic partners status, or any other legally protected status.

The organization is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process or expect to require an accommodation if hired, please contact humanresources@lafla.org.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION – LAFLA offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Eligible employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend. Please visit https://lafla.org/get-involved/careers/ for our salary scale for union, non-management staff.

HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE - LAFLA advocates are working on a hybrid work schedule, with the ability to work remotely up to half the week, if preferred, after the probationary period. The successful candidate must be local and willing to work from the assigned LAFLA office.