Housing Attorney – Veterans (No eviction defense) Hybrid, 4-day week

About the role

Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. (MHAS) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities. MHAS empowers clients to assert their rights, maximize autonomy, achieve equity, and secure resources to thrive. The organization advocates for people of all ages with an emphasis on obtaining government benefits and services, protecting rights, and fighting discrimination. MHAS also provides training and technical assistance to attorneys, mental health professionals, consumer and family member groups, and other advocates, and participates in impact litigation and policy work.

This position partners with Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA), which helps individuals with mental health needs including transition-age youth, Veterans and their families, and those struggling with homelessness. MHALA uses an integrated, comprehensive service model tailored to each person’s needs. The Veterans Services program focuses on housing stability and sustainability, including employment training and placement, personal financial planning, and temporary financial assistance for rent and utilities.

MHAS seeks a Senior or Staff Housing Attorney to lead the behavioral health-legal partnership with MHALA’s Veterans Program, targeting low-income veterans with mental health disabilities at risk of homelessness. The attorney will provide legal advocacy to ensure veterans have housing and resources needed for better mental health outcomes and overall well-being. Attorneys with fewer than four years of experience may be considered for Staff Attorney; those with four or more years may be considered for Senior Attorney, which handles cases requiring a high level of legal expertise and includes providing legal training and technical assistance to other MHAS staff. The role focuses on homelessness prevention, direct representation in conflicts with landlords, housing authorities, and non-profit housing and service providers, including pre-eviction legal services and habitability and income/benefits advocacy. Note: This position does not provide eviction defense representation in court. The attorney will also provide legal training and technical assistance to MHALA Veterans Program staff and participants, and take on other client and policy work as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Providing competent legal assistance to clients through advice and counsel, research and writing, negotiation, and administrative advocacy
• Identifying clients’ legal issues and devising effective strategies to solve clients’ legal problems
• Maintaining an independent caseload and providing support on other cases as needed (for Senior Attorneys, including cases that require a high level of legal expertise and experience)
• Researching unfamiliar areas of law using appropriate legal research tools
• Drafting clear and concise legal documents using proper tone and language based on audience
• Providing technical assistance and training to staff at other organizations and to members of the community
• Supervising law clerks and collaborating with pro bono partners
• Assisting with project administration and reporting
• Participating in policy advocacy projects as requested
• In-person attendance twice a month at MHALA meetings in Long Beach and Palmdale (one meeting per month at each site)
• For Senior Attorneys, providing substantive expertise, guidance, and training to the entire MHAS legal services team
• Assisting with other projects and tasks as identified related to MHAS’ mission

Schedule

This is a hybrid position. Most work can be done remotely with no regularly scheduled in-office days. The attorney is required to attend two monthly MHALA meetings at their sites in Long Beach and Palmdale (one meeting per month at each site). Occasional in-person meetings may be required at the MHAS office in Glendale, at partner organizations, or other locations. All MHAS staff have access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips remote employees with necessary technology and office supplies. The Housing Attorney must live in the Los Angeles area. MHAS operates a four-day work week: all full-time employees work four eight-hour days per week, with the office closed on Fridays. Flexible work schedules are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Pay

Annual salary: $75,000 – $105,000. Senior Attorney range: $92,000 – $105,000. Staff Attorney range: $75,000 – $89,000.

Benefits

• Four-day work week (four eight-hour days, office closed Fridays)
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• Employee health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Mileage, parking, and transit fare reimbursement
• Frequent wellness opportunities including stress management and mindfulness trainings, group meditations, and regular informal staff gatherings
• Collegial, family-friendly culture that respects work/life balance

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

MHAS seeks to fill all positions with people who share its values, including a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The organization encourages applications from people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people living with mental health and/or physical disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary; immigrants; people affected by mass incarceration; and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. MHAS strongly values lived experience with homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or economic instability, believing diversity is both a source of program strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness.