ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice (CREJ), Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants Rights, Gender Justice, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law.

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of approximately 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

ABOUT CONSUMER RIGHTS & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

CREJ’s mission is to advance racial and economic justice by representing and advocating for individuals who are low-income and their families to improve their financial futures, safeguard intergenerational wealth, address systemic inequalities, and oppose the institutions and companies that take advantage of the communities we serve.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the Staff Attorney will:

• Provide direct legal services to low-income or elderly homeowners to improve or maintain their ability to preserve their homes
• Litigate individual cases, and contribute to litigating class cases, as appropriate
• Become expert in foreclosure defense and loss mitigation, and other areas of law related to income stabilization for low-income homeowners (for example, debt collection and student loans)
• Conduct community presentations across Los Angeles County on topics such as the foreclosure process, homeowners rights, avoiding scams, consumer debt defense, and the bankruptcy process
• Collaborate with community-based organizations to conduct outreach about legal services and financial relief to homeowners at greatest risk of foreclosure throughout Los Angeles, Kern, and Ventura Counties
• Staff homeowner preservation monthly clinics
• Represent CREJ and Public Counsel in external meetings and events, including with funders and the media as appropriate
• Assist the Directing Attorney, Supervising Attorney, and team with occasional research and writing projects and grant reporting
• Supervise summer law student interns and other volunteers
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• 410 years of legal experience
• Juris Doctor degree and a member in good standing of the California Bar
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to quickly assimilate complex case facts and good attention to detail
• Ability to stay organized and handle a full case load
• Demonstrated negotiation skills
• Willingness and desire to litigate, with litigation experience strongly preferred
• Ability to work both independently and in teams
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate with other team members
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish preferred
• Consumer law experience, especially related to foreclosure and/or student loans, preferred
• Commitment to economic and racial justice, including participating in and advancing the equity and inclusion work at Public Counsel
• High levels of emotional intelligence, maturity and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, empathetic, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth and open mindset
• Exempt employees are expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and must work all additional time necessary to accomplish job duties in a timely and professional manner. They must be flexible in work hours so as to provide superior quality and timely service to clients consistent with the position and professional responsibility obligations.