Professor of Practice, Housing Rights Legal Clinic

Posting #5680 – Faculty, Full-time temporary position located in San Diego, School of Law.

About the Department

The USD Law Housing Rights Clinic, founded in 2022, provides low-income community members with assistance for housing instability and related issues, including:

• Homelessness
• Eviction
• Foreclosure
• Threats to housing such as uninhabitability and harassment

The clinic offers law students hands-on experience in client representation, including interviewing, drafting pleadings, discovery, motion practice, negotiation, and trial. Students also engage in outreach, education, and tenant organizing. The class meets weekly for group instruction on housing law and advocacy, with additional weekly office hours for one-on-one training.

About the Role

The Professor of Practice will provide direct client representation, case management, and supervision of legal interns for the Housing Rights Legal Clinic (HRLC) within the USD Legal Clinics program. The HRLC addresses legal issues causing housing instability, offering full-scope representation in eviction defense, tenants’ rights enforcement, habitability claims, anti-harassment, and retaliation cases. The clinic also provides advice, mediation, training, renter education, and advocacy to increase affordable housing and assist individuals displaced by domestic violence.

Responsibilities

• Client Cases:
  • Maintain an individual caseload, providing direct client support and advocacy.
  • Supervise law student interns to ensure competent and ethical representation.
• Instruction:
  • Develop and teach the HRLC curriculum, covering substantive law, legal procedure, and public policy related to housing rights.
  • Train law students in fundamental lawyering skills, including written and oral advocacy, client and case management, and legal ethics.
• Law Office Management and Operation:
  • Supervise paralegals, support staff, and legal interns.
  • Develop orientation and training programs for legal interns.
  • Oversee substantive casework and evaluate intern performance.
  • Manage administrative and operational aspects of the Legal Clinics program.
  • Monitor law office procedures, including case opening/closing, record-keeping, and file maintenance.
  • Ensure continuous client representation during non-academic periods.
• Grant Application and Administration:
  • Assist the Academic Director with annual grant applications.
  • Organize case data for reporting and publicity.
  • Compile and submit reports as required by grantors.
  • Analyze and report year-to-year trends in case management.
  • Monitor case diversity.
• Outreach & Education:
  • Coordinate and deliver educational outreach at community events throughout San Diego County.
  • Identify and engage new community partners to expand the referral network.
  • Create and distribute informational materials for community partners.
  • Coordinate continuing education (MCLE) events at the USD Legal Clinics.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• J.D. degree.
• Active membership in the California State Bar (in good standing).
• Three years of housing law experience.
• Familiarity with computerized case management systems for legal practice.
• Demonstrated skills in customer service and problem-solving.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising junior attorneys or law student interns.
• Familiarity with grant application and administration processes.
• Experience working with community-based organizations and volunteer groups.
• Fluency in both Spanish and English (written and verbal).

Special Conditions

• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
• Official education transcripts required for degree verification.

Physical Demands

The role involves frequent sitting, talking, hearing, and use of hands for operating tools or controls. Occasional walking, lifting up to 25 pounds, and adjusting focus for computer use or distance visibility may be required.

Work Environment

The work environment is primarily office-based, air-conditioned, with noise levels varying from quiet to moderate.

Pay

$9,166 to $10,833 per month.

Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement contributions provided by the University.
• Access to on-campus fitness centers.