Staff Attorney – Project Impact (Clean Slate Initiatives)

NLSLA provides free assistance to more than 175,000 individuals and families a year through innovative projects that expand access to justice and address the most critical needs of people living in poverty throughout Los Angeles. We are a community of people who see the law as a powerful tool to fight for individual rights and social change. Our work aims to unravel entrenched disparities that have resulted from longstanding injustice, systemic racism, and institutionalized inequality.

As such, we know that a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences enhance our vision. This value is embodied within the diversity of our community offerings and among the colleagues that help enliven our culture. Cultivating an inclusive work environment that values a range of talent and ideas is a top priority for us. We enthusiastically encourage candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. Reasonable accommodations may be made.

ABOUT THIS POSITION:

NLSLA is seeking a Staff Attorney for its Clean Slate Initiatives (CSI) team. The CSI team consists of a passionate group of advocates working to disrupt systemic racism and generational trauma through removing legal barriers presented by the presence of a criminal record. The Attorney will be assigned to Project Impact (AKA Project imPACT), a state-funded reentry services program overseen by the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office. With the overarching mission of removing employment barriers for individuals with recent arrest or incarceration history, Project imPACT is a wraparound program that involves trauma-informed service coordination with a behavioral health provider and employment services partner. Working closely with a Project imPACT Paralegal, the Attorney will be trained in and expected to maintain expertise on a range of legal issues affecting system-impacted individuals, including expungement, arrest sealing, professional licensing barriers, fair chance employment and housing denials, and early termination of supervision. Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting, perform client interviews with patience & sensitivity, and manage an active caseload is required.

In this role, you would report to the Supervising Attorney of the CSI team, and a career path may result in future opportunities as a Senior Attorney. This position is exempt and temporary (one year), with opportunity for continued employment contingent on grant funding.

THIS POSITION MAY BE RIGHT FOR YOU IF:

• YOU CHAMPION SOCIAL JUSTICE and channel your legal expertise to champion the rights and needs of underserved and vulnerable communities.
• YOU COMMUNICATE WITH EMPATHY, conveying complex legal concepts with empathy and clarity to clients who may have limited legal knowledge or language barriers.
• YOU ARE DEPENDABLE and thoroughly handle your responsibilities with a high level of precision and a noticeable commitment to productivity and meeting deadlines.
• YOU ARE A COMPASSIONATE PROBLEM SOLVER with a drive to help clients resolve issues.
• YOU ARE A SELF STARTER that needs minimal direction to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO DO IN THIS ROLE:

• Play an active role in implementing and providing direct legal services under Project imPACT;
• Represent clients in post-conviction proceedings through LA Superior Court;
• Provide substantive legal support/oversight to the Project imPACT Paralegal;
• Participate in reporting efforts to track data and outcomes;
• Conduct community workshops on a range of legal issues (comfort with or willingness to improve public speaking skills is desired);
• Maintain an active caseload. Advocacy may include informal, administrative, litigation and/or policy work in a variety of substantive legal issues that impact the reentry population.
• Travel to NLSLA program offices, courthouses, and other locations throughout Los Angeles County may be required.

HOW YOU CAN STAND OUT:

For this role, the ideal candidate has:

• Worked in a legal services firm.
• Prior experience with expungement or other clean slate remedies or related poverty law issues.
• Worked with vulnerable populations and/or survivors of trauma.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED ON DAY ONE:

• A JD from an accredited law school.
• Active California State Bar license.
• Excellent writing, speaking, and organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, the judiciary, and the public.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, business communication platforms, and web-based case management platforms.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including being attentive to cultural needs and differences.
• Passion for NLSLA’s mission and demonstrated commitment to advocating for the legal rights of low-income individuals.
• Passion, empathy, and compassion for supporting people from different lived experiences.

SALARY RANGE:

The salary range for this position is $78,000-$86,000.

Benefits include:

• 35-hour workweek with a hybrid schedule.
• 15 paid holidays per year
• 2 to 5 weeks of vacation per year depending on seniority.
• 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and AD&D insurance; FSA; and EAP.
• A 403(b)-retirement plan.
• Monthly bilingual supplement.
• Lawyer student loan reimbursement assistance program.