Managing Attorney - Asian & Pacific Islander Community Outreach Project

POSITION: Managing Attorney Asian & Pacific Islander Community Outreach Project

LOCATION: Ron Olson Justice Center

SALARY: $114,860.98k to $138k annual/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 Project: The Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Community Outreach Project provides linguistically accessible, culturally intelligent, trauma-informed help to API clients in their preferred language, with access to all LAFLA services.

LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Managing Attorney.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Active membership in the State Bar of California;
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in the practice of law;
• Extensive ties to the API community;
• Demonstrated knowledge of poverty law and community legal needs, preferably in the areas of immigration, family law, housing, or government benefits;
• Demonstrated ability to supervise the legal work of others engaged in direct services, policy advocacy, and/or litigation;
• Ability to deal with people tactfully and effectively;
• Willingness to assume responsibility quickly;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail;
• 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;
• Past experience mentoring attorneys, paralegals and/or law clerks;
• Experience managing and implementing grants and preparing grant reports preferred; and
• Bilingual in an Asian language preferred.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Ensures that those in API community, who are eligible, have full and meaningful access to LAFLA’s services;
• Responsible for the oversight and administration of approximately 10 staff members within the API workgroup;
• Organizes and coordinates community education and outreach activities to the API community;
• Identifies significant legal needs and issues in the API community and develops plans, including litigation and policy advocacy, to address those needs and issues;
• Identifies barriers that have precluded significant numbers in the API community from accessing legal services and develops plans to eliminate or minimize such barriers;
• Work with the Director of Community and Economic Justice to ensure the Foundation’s mission is being fulfilled and reflected in the workgroup’s annual work plan;
• Conduct annual performance evaluations of all workgroup staff and implement performance standards for the same;
• In conjunction with the development and finance departments, ensure grant compliance, compile grant reports, respond to grant audits, and maximize satisfaction of grant deliverables for the grants funding the API workgroup;
• Participate in resource development, including identifying and pursuing grants and other funding opportunities;
• Ensure regulatory compliance on cases reported to funders;
• Work with other Managing Attorneys to meet the overall goals of the Foundation;
• Secure training opportunities for workgroup staff in relevant substantive legal areas;
• Conduct case review meetings 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;
• In coordination with the Pro Bono Director, recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer attorneys, law students, and other community members; and
• Provides legal assistance, representation and advocacy on behalf of low-income clients, primarily in the areas of immigration, family law, housing, and government benefits.
• 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/

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. Employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend.

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

INTRODUCTORY 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 company 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. 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.