Housing Law Staff Attorney

Job purpose

Housing Law Staff Attorney

Full-Time Position

San Rafael, California

Our Mission

Legal Aid of Marin provides no-cost, holistic, civil legal services and resources to Marin County residents experiencing poverty and individuals who are currently, or have historically been, marginalized. Legal Aid of Marin’s mission is to create an equitable Marin by empowering the community through legal representation, advocacy, and education. We envision an inclusive Marin with equal justice and opportunity for all.

Our Impact

Legal Aid of Marin (LAM) is a growing, collaborative, civil legal services organization based in San Rafael, California. Each year, LAM provides thousands of Marin residents with access to direct civil legal services and resources. LAM prioritizes representing members of marginalized communities, including people experiencing poverty, seniors, immigrants, people with disabilities, people of color, and veterans. Our service priorities include: recovering wages for immigrant workers; advocating on behalf of tenants and enforcing renter protections; providing homelessness prevention legal services; representing individuals in consumer protection matters, connecting seniors with estate planning services; restoring driver’s licenses and eliminating fines through the Marin Community Court program; increasing access to pro bono legal services in partnership with the private bar; and connecting Marin residents to local community-based social services organizations. LAM works collaboratively, bringing services to community through regular outreach in partnership with community-based organizations across Marin. We work consistently to increase Marin County residents’ access to the civil justice system.

 

Duties and responsibilities

  • Responsibilities
    LAM seeks a passionate and community-centered attorney with a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice advocacy to provide housing and homelessness prevention legal services to low-income and otherwise marginalized tenants living in Marin County. Reporting to the Managing Attorney, the Housing Law Staff Attorney will independently manage a high-volume housing law caseload and provide support in other areas as needed, including outreach and public education efforts.
  • Duties Include:
    • Under the supervision of the organization’s Managing Attorney, provide holistic and community-centered legal services to tenants in eviction defense, habitability, and tenants’ rights matters
    • Conduct client interviews, factual analysis, and legal research
    • Manage high-volume caseload of fast-paced eviction defense matters
    • Engage in community education and off-site outreach
    • Negotiate with landlords, property management companies, and opposing counsel to maintain housing stability for clients facing eviction
    • Represent LAM clients at hearings and pursue affirmative litigation, which may include multi-plaintiff and class actions, in response to client needs and when in line with LAM’s mission and resources
    • Supervise and train volunteer attorneys, legal assistants, interns, and non-attorney volunteers when needed
    • Work in close coordination with LAM Staff to ensure superior legal services to clients
    • Maintain complete and accurate client and case data for tracking and reporting
    • Record and provide data to support organizational reporting requirements and requests from the Programs Officer and Executive Director
    • Meet ethical requirements as set forth by the State Bar of California
    • Support organizational development and fundraising when necessary
    • Make connections with community partners to facilitate clients’ access to safety net resources
    • Complete additional mission-aligned tasks as required by organizational leadership

Qualifications

  • • Commitment to the mission and vision of Legal Aid of Marin
    • Member in good standing with the California State Bar
    • Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and experience working with traditionally marginalized communities, including immigrants, BIPOC individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, people experiencing poverty, and people struggling with housing instability
    • Demonstrated commitment to client-centered lawyering, diversity, and uplifting marginalized communities
    • Experience with or demonstrated interest in practicing housing law
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills
    • Excellent analytical and organizational skills
    • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a close-knit team
    • Willingness to receive feedback, follow directives, implement goals of organizational leadership, and address areas for professional growth
    • Supports cultivation of positive collaboration with external partners, stakeholders, and members of the public
    • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing, and collaborative environment
    • Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and car insurance
    • Fluency in Spanish (very strongly preferred)

Compensation:

This position is exempt. The starting salary range is $85,000-90,000, depending on experience. LAM employee benefits include fifteen paid holidays (part-time employees are eligible for holidays that fall on their regularly scheduled day), accrued personal leave, sick leave, employee health insurance coverage, and retirement plan participation.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and a list of three professional references via email to: careers@legalaidmarin.org. Our review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. We will only contact candidates moving forward in the interviewing process.

Remote Work

This position is authorized for remote work two days per week. The other three days must be performed at LAM’s office in San Rafael, California. The schedule for remote work must be approved by the Managing Attorney and is subject to change in light of organizational needs.

 

 

Legal Aid of Marin is committed to promoting a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ community members, veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals from historically underrepresented groups to apply. We are an equal opportunity employer and refrain from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.