Staff Attorney - Eviction Defense

Job Title:                             Eviction Defense Attorney
FLSA Classification:          Exempt
Reports To:                        Practice Group Director
Supervises:                         Paralegals and Legal Secretaries as required
Compensation:                $78,000.00 - $115,000.00 annually

Inland Counties Legal Services is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our Housing Team.  Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing legal services to vulnerable populations in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.  Legal services are provided by attorneys, or paralegals under the direct supervision of an attorney.  Levels of service include advice and counsel, limited action (includes negotiations and preparation of legal documents), as well as direct representation before administrative law and civil courts. ICLS provides legal assistance in eight practice groups: Elder Law, Consumer, Housing, Family Law, Immigration, Systemic/Impact, Health Law, and Public Benefits. Visit our website at www.inlandlegal.org for more information. 

Staff attorneys are encouraged to conduct at least one community legal education presentation (preferably on-site within ICLS’ service area) and to attend at least one community resource event per year.  Additional opportunities to expand your legal network include working collaboratively with Pro Bono volunteers, participating in local bar association events (costs reimbursed by ICLS), and engaging with an amazing civil legal aid community at national, state and local levels.

Qualities
The following qualities are desirable in a staff attorney :

• Community centered with willingness to learn from and work with others including an openness to share challenges and an intentional practice to express gratitude to their colleagues.
• Patience with clients and self including healthy and sustainable practice to manage stress and vicarious trauma and is willing to learn practices that may be helpful in these regards.
• Approachable for staff, clients, and the community ICLS’ serves.
• Determination to achieve the best options for clients and passionate dedication to access justice via civil legal aid.
• 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 low income individuals.
• Hard-working but appreciates a work-life balance; has boundaries and respects others’ boundaries.
• Passion for learning and personal/professional growth including mentorship for self and mentoring others as experience is gained;

Skills:

• Active listening skills
• Trauma-informed interviewing skills
• Legal writing and research skills
• Courtroom/trial experience (will be gained at ICLS for those with limited experience)
• Analytical skills
• Effectively manage time and case load
• Bilingual (desired, but required)
• Negotiation

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Represent tenants in unlawful detainer (eviction) lawsuits
• Represent tenants in litigation and administrative proceedings to improve living conditions
• Participate in community outreach events and legal workshops/clinics
• Provide legal advice and full scope representation in court to tenants facing eviction.
• Conduct intake interviews with new clients
• Provide in-office “backup” on a rotating basis, responding to client emergencies and agency inquiries
• Ability to be flexible to adapt and act quickly when urgent matters as required
• Access to reliable transportation
• Ability to travel to community events in ICLS's service area
• Ability to participate in events outside of regular work hours

Qualifications

• Admission to the State Bar of California, in good standing;
• Years of Experience:
  • Attorney I: 0-3 years of experience
  • Attorney II: 3-5 years of experience
  • Attorney III: 4-9 years of experience
  • Attorney IV: 8 + years of experience
  • Note: Years of experience are considered guidelines based on actual, substantive legal experience.

Inland Counties Legal Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws and regulations. Selections for employment or promotion are made solely on the basis of merit as identified through work experience and education.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.  The recognition of our common humanity is the first step in fostering an inclusive environment. Our unique stories and experiences allow us to better solve the challenges that our community faces with the recognition that the sum of our unique differences is greater than our individual parts. Staff approach professional relationships with humility and a desire to have a positive impact on the community we serve.