Staff Attorney - Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit

About the role

The Public Law Center (PLC)’s Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit seeks an energetic, passionate advocate to join our team in fighting for justice for low-income tenants and self-represented litigants in Orange County through innovative, collaborative, community-centered lawyering to address inequities and pursue access to affordable housing.

Responsibilities

• Handle a diverse caseload on behalf of low-income tenants, including eviction defense, discrimination, habitability, subsidized housing cases, and other issues arising in landlord/tenant relationships
• Coordinate referrals to other PLC units to provide comprehensive legal services
• Investigate clients’ cases, including inspection of housing units and obtaining and reviewing documents and records from government agencies
• Represent PLC at networking and community outreach events
• This position requires attendance at meetings, both remote and in person, in and outside the Public Law Center’s offices, and requires being located in Southern California.
• Must have ability to work at the organization’s offices in Santa Ana, CA, and travel to work sites located throughout Orange County, CA. In addition, travel to Los Angeles County and other neighboring counties may be required

Requirements

This position requires attendance at meetings, both remote and in person, in and outside the Public Law Center’s offices, and requires being located in Southern California. Must have ability to work at the organization’s offices in Santa Ana, CA, and travel to work sites located throughout Orange County, CA. In addition, travel to Los Angeles County and other neighboring counties may be required

Qualifications

• Must have a J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school
• Must be licensed to practice law in California
• Experience representing low-income tenants and self-represented litigants in landlord/tenant matters
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills

Skills

• Strong analytical and research skills
• Excellent writing and oral advocacy skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively
• Experience working with community organizations and stakeholders

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance (100% of employee premium costs paid by PLC, and 50% of dependent health insurance premium costs paid by PLC)
• Flexible Spending Account Program to help pay for medical expenses and childcare costs
• Approximately 1 paid week off during office winter closure (between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
• 21 paid sick/wellness days per year to promote mental wellness and general wellbeing
• 15 paid vacation days per year
• Birthday paid time off (2 hours of paid time off during birthday month)
• 403b retirement plan (after 6 months of employment PLC provides a matching contribution equaling 100% of salary deferral up to a maximum of 3-4%, depending on length of employment)
• Monthly $55 stipend for Wi-Fi and cell phone use
• Optional monthly peer support group facilitated by third party mental health clinic

Pay

Compensation dependent on experience; range of $70,000 – $95,000 (salary scale is calculated according to years of attorney licensure).

Schedule

Full time position with occasional evening and weekend work required