Housing Rights Legal Clinic Staff Attorney

About the role

The Housing Rights Legal Clinic Staff Attorney position is a full-time temporary, benefit-based role with an anticipated end date of December 31, 2027. The position is renewable based on performance and funding.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a reasonable individual caseload of client cases providing direct client contact and support, representing and advocating on behalf of clients, and consulting with supervising attorneys to determine appropriate legal strategy.
• Help supervise the Eviction Negotiation Program, an onsite legal service at the Court and County Law Library, that provides negotiation assistance to in pro per tenants facing trial on the same day.
• Provide secondary supervision for paralegals, support staff, and legal interns.
• Develop orientation and other training programs for legal interns.
• Supervise and evaluate substantive casework provided by legal interns.
• Administer administrative/operational supervision of Legal Clinics program.
• Monitor law office procedures, including opening and closing cases, record-keeping, and file maintenance.
• Grant Application and Administration: Assist Professor of Practice to complete annual grant applications and other reporting requirements.
• Organize case data for reporting and publicity.
• Analyze and report year-to-year trends in case management.
• Monitor case diversity.
• Outreach & Education: Coordinate, develop and provide educational outreach presentations in both English and Spanish at schools, cities, and community partners’ events throughout San Diego County.
• Create and distribute informational handouts and posters for clients to community partners.
• Cookout & Education: Coordinate continuing education (MCLE) events at the USD Legal Clinics.
• Review and analyze proposed legislation and regulatory policies affecting housing rights, access to housing, affordable housing, and fair housing issues.

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications: J.D. degree, Active membership in the California State Bar (in good standing), One year of experience practicing law in housing rights or eviction defense, Familiarity with computerized case management systems for legal practice, Demonstrated skills in customer service, including problem-solving.
• Preferred Qualifications: Experience dealing with community-based organizations and volunteer groups, Demonstrated analytical skills utilized in budgeting and grant reports, Fluent in Spanish and English (both written and verbal).