Managing Attorney - (Disaster Legal Services)

POSITION: Managing Attorney - (Disaster Legal Services)

LOCATION: TBD

SALARY: $109,000k - $140,000k / Annually, DOE with excellent benefits

AVAILABILITY: Immediately

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Continuous until positionis 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 Position: The Disaster Legal Services Manager will be part of the Disaster Legal Services project under the supervision of the LAFLA Pro Bono Team. The Manager will oversee a disaster response attorney, two legal fellows, and possibly other staff to collaborate on disaster relief clinics, cases, projects and impact litigation with other LAFLA management, staff, volunteers, and contractors to provide legal services to affected clients.

LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Managing Attorney (Disaster Legal Services).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• • Active membership in the California State Bar required.
  • Minimum six (6) to eight (8) years of experience in the practice of law, including broad experience in lawyering skills, including client interviewing, legal research, writing, negotiations, litigation and discovery techniques, trial work and appellate work in both state and federal courts;
  • Prior experience in the practice of housing law preferred;
  • Prior disaster-related experience preferred;
  • Willingness to assume responsibility quickly;
  • Demonstrated ability to supervise the legal work of others engaged in direct services, policy advocacy, transactional work, litigation, and impact cases; Knowledge of basic principles of administration and management;
  • Previous experience in a legal services program preferred;
  • Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail;
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the proven ability to relate to diverse individuals with respect and humility on a consistent basis;
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse staff and partners, including court and judicial staff, volunteers, and community-based organizations;
  • 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 obligations so necessitate.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Help LAFLA design sustainable model for new disaster legal services practice area by identifying priority cases, assigning work to best meet the legal needs of community members affected by the wildfire disaster, and developing new systems of service delivery with the input of the Pro Bono Team;
• Responsible for the oversight and supervision of 3+ attorneys/post-graduate fellows in disaster response legal work;
• Work closely with other LAFLA staff and pro bono partners on disaster related clinics, cases and projects;
• Provide disaster legal services related to housing including but not limited to landlord tenant problems, mortgage and homeownership issues, home repair contracts and property insurance claims;
• Provide disaster legal services related to consumer protection and public assistance in areas such as price gouging, scams, identity theft, disability related access to federal/state/local disaster programs, vital records replacement, and FEMA, SBA, SNAP, Unemployment and other public benefits;
• Litigate cases in various courthouses in Los Angeles County;
• Represent clients at administrative hearings and writs;
• Conduct regular case reviews for disaster staff to ensure that legal services provided are consistent with LAFLA’s priorities, policies and procedures, and that they maximize office resources to provide the highest quality client service; Supervise timekeeping, conduct performance evaluations and implement performance standards of staff;
• Work on policy issues relating to disaster issues with community-based organizations, legal services providers, and pro bono partners;
• Participate in substantive training and resource development;
• Help manage grant compliance and, as necessary, identify and pursue additional grants and other funding opportunities;
• Coordinate, oversee and attend pro bono disaster response clinics and related events;
• Provide mentorship and support to pro bono attorneys working on disaster related cases assigned by LAFLA; and
• Other duties to support the Pro Bono Team.

HOW TO APPLY - Please submit a cover letter and resume online to spwgjobs@lafla.org. Include “Managing Attorney – Disaster Legal Services” in the subject line.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD – A one year probationary 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 - Depending on job classifications, some LAFLA staff are working on a manager approved 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.