Housing Practice Group Managing Attorney – Eviction Defense - Inland Counties Legal Services Inc.

Job Title:                            Housing Practice Group Managing Attorney – Eviction Defense
FLSAClassification:     Exempt
Reports To:                       Practice Group Director, Deputy Directors of Litigation, and Executive Director
Supervises:                 As Assigned
Pay range:                   $95,000.00 - $122,000.00 (Depending On Experience)

Do you believe safe and habitable housing is a human right? Are you interested in further developing your leadership and management skills by supervising dedicated attorney and non-attorney advocates working to secure clients’ rights to safe and habitable housing and asserting their tenant rights through negotiation and representation? This position might be right for you. ICLS seeks an experienced and talented lawyer with a deep commitment to public interest practice and housing law to join our Housing team as an Eviction Defense Managing Attorney.

Preserving housing for ICLS clients is a core goal of the Housing Practice Group. As a Managing Attorney, you will collaborate with the Director of Housing Justice to oversee multiple Unlawful Detainer (UD) clinics, and our Tenant Landlord Assistance Project (TLAP) held throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. This position is responsible for practicing both substantive housing law and supervising the work of a group of legal assistants, paralegals, and attorneys helping clients with housing issues related to eviction defense.

As the Eviction Defense Managing Attorney, you will ensure the smooth and effective day-to-day operations of the Eviction Defense team by coordinating, mentoring and supervising staff, providing leadership, and prioritizing legal issues. You will also gain experience in grant writing, management, and meeting deliverables and compliance objectives. The Managing Attorney will also support advocacy for systemic housing reform at both the local and state level and work with the Director of Housing Justice in setting long-term priorities for the department.

You’ll also get the opportunity to expand your legal network by working collaboratively with Pro Bono volunteers, participating in local bar association events (for which ICLS will pay), and learning about the amazing civil legal aid community – local, statewide, and national.

Qualities:

To be successful, a Managing Attorney should have the following qualities:

• Willingness to learn from and work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Patience with clients, staff, and self.
• Approachable for staff, clients, and the community ICLS serves.
• An openness to communicate challenges and an intentional practice to express gratitude to their colleagues.
• Determination to get the best outcome for clients.
• Curiosity and desire to learn about client’s experiences that led to legal issue including systemic injustices that have historically disadvantaged persons of color and individuals with low income.
• Passion and dedication to access to justice via civil legal aid.
• Hard-working but appreciative of a work-life balance; setting and respecting boundaries for themselves and others.
• Ability to have a healthy and sustainable practice to manage stress and vicarious trauma or willingness to learn practices that may be helpful in these regards.
• Community Centered; Inquisitive
• Passion for continuous learning and personal and professional growth.
• Committed to mentorship for self and mentoring others, as applicable based on experience level.
• Ability and willingness to travel to courts, senior centers, and community centers throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Skills:

• Active listening skills 
• Trauma-informed interviewing skills  
• Legal writing and research skills 
• Courtroom/trial experience
• Analytical skills 
• Willingness to learn and be mentored 
• Bilingual (preferred)
• Negotiation  

Job Related Expectations:
General Duties and Responsibilities:
 

• Managing Attorneys are expected to carry a smaller caseload consisting of more complex legal matters related to the assigned practice group and/or workgroup.
• Supervise staff attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and volunteers
• Monitor and maintain a high standard of representation and client service
• Collaborate and work closely with the Director of Housing Justice in supervising and developing ICLS’ eviction defense practice
• Coordinate intake
• Respond to client, community, and staff concerns
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies
• Supervise the timely closing of cases for non-attorney and attorney advocates in the case management system and ensure compliance requirements are met
• Develop and maintain community support and relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, and the courts
• Conduct community education, training, and outreach and promote the work of the Housing Practice Group
• Become familiar with and follow Legal Services Corporation regulations and other funder requirements as appropriate.

Team Management Responsibilities: 

As needed, the Managing Attorney will assist the Housing Justice Director with the following: 

• Reviewing timekeeping and expense reports. 
• Drafting annual employee evaluations and work plans. 
• Onboarding new staff and training on practice group-specific rules and subject matter. 
• Identifying staff training/development needs and helping to locate resources. 
• Ensuring case compliance. 
• Overseeing team-specific grant requirements - meetings, reports, etc.  
• Helping to identify potential grant and funding opportunities related to the practice area. 
• Overseeing the quality and accuracy of legal work performed by the team's advocates, particularly non-attorneys. 

Qualifications:

• Degree from law school and active member of the California Bar in good standing
• At least 4 years of legal experience
• At least 3 years of experience working in housing law
• Supervisory, mentoring, and management experience in a legal environment preferred
• Ability to work in a collaborative team model
• Demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of poverty law and justice
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, including but not limited to seniors
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Knowledge in various practice areas within civil legal services practice preferred
• Grant-writing and fundraising experience preferred
• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable but not required

 

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