Temporary Eviction Defense Housing Attorney (Hy...

Description:

Overview of Position:
Housing has the attention of everyone in the country and especially the SF Bay Area. A safe and healthy home is a universal human need, yet it is consistently unrealized or threatened for those experiencing poverty or those overlooked by our country's racist systems. A Legal Services in San Francisco, CA provides holistic, trauma-informed housing services helping people access everything they need to feel safe and secure in their homes.
We are hiring a Temporary Eviction Defense Housing Attorney (June 2024 to February 2025) to strengthen A Legal Services in San Francisco, CA's capacity to represent and assist low-income persons, especially BIPOC populations, and individuals in jeopardy of losing their housing. The attorney in this position will assist predominantly marginalized communities, including those previously specified, as well as those living with mental illness and/or disabilities. You will do that by working with and in San Francisco communities that are hit the hardest. This involves: utilizing local and national tenant protections; navigating state, local, and federal aid; and working with other local organizations to assist our clients.
In this position, you will be defending clients in Unlawful Detainer proceedings. The work is fast-paced and will require you to think critically and demonstrate humility and awareness in understanding the needs of our community. Overall, this position is intended to be a challenging yet extremely rewarding experience for someone looking to make a difference in client's lives with an innovative, results-oriented, and fast-growing organization. Success in this role requires grit, dynamism, teamwork, care, and passion (also our team's five values). The housing team is currently made up of six attorneys, one advocate, and one paralegal. You will report directly to the Managing Housing Attorney.
Responsibilities:

• Embrace and embody our mission of universal access to civil legal aid and ensure that everyone in our service area with a viable housing problem gets appropriate help, including legal representation.
• Own 15+ open housing law cases
• Appear in San Francisco Superior Court representing clients up to 3-4 times a week for any litigation matters, as needed.
• Conduct housing law intakes virtually and in person across multiple physical A Legal Services in San Francisco, CA locations.
• Empower housing law litigants to know their rights, and navigate San Francisco Superior Court, San Francisco Rent Board, and other administrative law forums.
• Provide services and support to our low-income clients with sensitivity and awareness to cultural, socio-economic, and disability differences. Keep a high rating in the client feedback survey.
• Embrace and embody our values of teamwork, grit, caring, passionate, and dynamic.

Requirements:

• Membership in good standing with the California State Bar. Applicants without active California bar membership will not be considered. However, those without a license are encouraged to apply to volunteer with us at opendoorlegal.org/volunteer.
• California housing law and superior court civil procedure knowledge.
• Must genuinely enjoy working with low-income clients and have a commitment to providing culturally-humble and trauma-informed services.
• Must have some experience in a fast-paced office environment.
• Must have high comfort using technology and case management systems.
• Must have a strong attention to detail.
• Minimal to light physical effort is generally required in performing duties in an office environment. This position requires the ability to operate a computer keyboard and standard office equipment, sitting, standing, and lifting up to 10 pounds occasionally
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

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